Although they just had pancakes a few days ago, that was one of the few luxuries that any tank witch could get. It was often cold meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This didn't help with the fact the 401st was posted in a base in north-east Hispania, where the country's bad economy affected the witches stationed there.

It wasn't all fun and games for the 401st. The group itself was the only Joint Tank Battalion to be created, due to the low amount and quality of tank witches at any given time. Tank witches were also usually only under command of their respective countries, meaning that the lack of cooperation between countries to develop ground strikers was inevitable. This would lead one to think that the tank witches despised air infantry witches, but such is not the case, as the two often work together to get the job done.

The 401st was also a test group, always equipped with the newest tank strikers and weapons coming in often, to be tested and given feedback. But due to the strikers often just coming off the drawing board, this endangered the witch using it, which was being demonstrated in the current situation.

"Ah, scheisse! Someone, cover me!" yelled Karlyn Knispel. She had been the first to test a new variant of the fabled Tiger I strikers; a new 'Compact' version, which attempts to increase mobility, without sacrificing any of the aspects the original Tiger I striker had.

While it was an outstanding idea, the newly designed Maybach magic engine, which was downsized to fit into the unit, had exploded. Fortunately, Karlyn didn't even get any burns, but the strikers were now immobile, and she was now struggling to fire at the incoming Neuroi with her 88mm KwK 36 Compact Witch Gun.

"Sandy, Pool, cover Kar to let her eject!" Marelda ordered, firing an 88mm round from her usual Tiger I Heavy Strikers at a Neuroified Gallian B1 Heavy Tank that had managed to slip through. The Neuroi was destroyed the instant the round hit it, leaving another black wreck on Gallian soil.

The 401st had been tasked with taking out a medium sized Neuroi defensive position on the south-west border of Gallia. Taking out this position would be the beginning of logistics running through West Gallia, reinforcing the Free Gallian troops that were still rebelling. The usual farmlands of countryside Gallia were stained with Neuroi occupation. Farm buildings were transformed into pillboxes for heavy Neuroi laser emplacements and to produce reinforcements. Splotches of burnt craters marked the fields, possibly from laser fire that destroyed entire allied patrols.

These fields also gave clear view of the enemy, but it worked both ways. The witches were largely outnumbered, and it was an intense firefight, as ground was gained one minute, and lost the next.

"Yes ma'am!" shouted Sandy and Fauna, Fauna now wearing the Liberian tanker uniform, complete with helmet and goggles, as they moved up in front of Karlyn, shielding her from the Neuroi that had targeted her. "Get out of here, Kar!" yelled Fauna, as she fired a 76mm shot, and raised her shield in time for a sudden laser burst. "Danke!" Karlyn exclaimed, and she quickly ejected, sprinting back to Marelda's position.

"Fauna, you've got one coming for you from nine 'o clock!" Sandy shouted, firing steadily with her 17-pounder Witch Gun, slowly retreating with her Sherman Firefly strikers. "I see it!" Fauna takes aim, looking for a weak spot. "Firing!" And she takes a shot at what looked like a Gallian FT-17. The Neuroi exploded, and was immobilized. "We have to keep this up!" Fauna yelled, not losing focus, and continued to pressure the Neuroi defenders.

Meanwhile, Marelda was thinking of the current situation. "Odetta, status report!" she said into her radio. A crackle was heard, and a small voice answered, "this is Odetta, it seems I have a solution."

The small scout witch had been in her current position an hour before the battle started, which was a large bush that was right in front of the enemy line. She had her 50mm KwK 39 L/56 Witch Gun on her back, and was holding a double periscope, scanning for a change in enemy movements. "Well, what is it, Odetta?" Marelda asked impatiently. "The Neuroi strongpoint that has been producing reinforcements has begun to slow down. It's focused all available energy left into production, that it left itself defenseless."

This is a good chance!... "Odetta, send this report to Johanna's squad, and give them the coordinates." "Jawohl." Several seconds later, 3 cannon shots were heard throughout the field, coming from three very deadly witches.

Odetta watched as the rounds landed at what used to be a farmers barn, and gave the fire report. "Marjatta, you struck a bull's-eye. Aim two degrees higher, Ellen, and half a degrees to the left, Johanna." Three more shots were heard, and Odetta gave a positive report, and the shelling continued for a minute, before Odetta radioed in Marelda, "Mar, the target is gone." "Wunderbar! Keep me updated, Odetta." "Jawohl," and Odetta continued to watch.

"Squad officers, give me a report!" "This is Elizaveta, right flank is doing fine," answered the Orussian, two shots coming from Lara Latapie's 47mm SA 35 and 75mm ABS SA 35 Witch Guns heard in the distance. "Woohoo, I got two at once!" yelled the young witch, and Elizaveta closed the channel. "Jennifer here, center is holding up!" The large rumble of Jessica's Churchill VI Heavy Strikers made the radio shake until the channel was closed.

Suddenly, Karlyn had finally arrived next to Marelda. "Karlyn, get on and take watch, Kanako, go take her place!" "Haik!" and the Fuso reserve witch made her way to the left flank. Karlyn climbed onto Marelda's striker, and manned the periscope binoculars that were bolted on the platform behind the witch using the striker.

"Fauna, I think we're winning!" shouted Sandy, who was glistening with sweat, as she was constantly using Rapid Fire to hold back the Neuroi; an ability that allows her to fire her gun accurately and as fast as a semi-automatic gun. "Don't get so happy yet, we're still surrounded!" answered Fauna. Guess now is a good time to use 'that'…

Fauna closed her eyes, and focused her magic. "Mutation!" she yelled, and an aura of magic spread over her, her rabbit ear and tail becoming much furrier and messy. Fauna dropped her gun, and charged at the persistent Neuroi, her hands growing claws, her speed and strength growing tremendously.

"Eat this!" Fauna dug her claws into a Neuroi's armor, her ability allowing her to come in contact and not get infected. From this range, the Neuroi could not fire its laser, and was helpless as Fauna ripped it to pieces. Fauna jumped to the next Neuroi, using the striker's weight to slam into it, and redid the process. This created mass confusion to the Neuroi, as their numbers slowly grew fewer.

"I'm here!" Kanako exclaimed cheerfully, steadying her 47mm Witch Gun, "where's Fauna-san?" Sandy pointed at the trail of wrecked Neuroi in front of her, and said, "quick, catch her before it gets worse!" She then fires at the Neuroi that were coming to replace their fallen brothers, keeping the path clear for Kanako.

"Haik!" and Kanako races after Fauna, who continued to mutate as she destroyed more Neuroi. Kill, kill, KILL! She had already grown whiskers by now, and her hands looked almost like paws. "Fauna-san, calm down!" shouted Kanako, trying to get her attention. It worked, as Fauna turned her head to the source of the sound. Kill?... Kanako was terrified by the look on Fauna's eyes, the same one she looks at every time she does this. "Kiyomeru!" Kanako exclaimed, covering Fauna with an aura of magic yet again, this time slowly turning her back to normal.

Fauna then proceeds to fall onto the ground, the M4A1(76)W smoothly ejecting her. "Fauna-san!" Kanako runs up to Fauna, who had her face planted onto the dirt. "Aill be fain, jest get dis don so we can go hom," she mumbled, her mouth filled with soil.

Kanako nodded, and Sandy had finally caught up. They both began cleaning up the remaining Neuroi on the left flank.

"The Neuroi are retreating, repeat, the Neuroi are retreating," Odetta announced, pushing her head out of the bush to get fresh air. The rest of the battalion cheered, several pops of Witch Guns filled the air.

Marelda smiled, and looked behind her. "Kar, status report?" Karlyn was busy scanning the field, and said, "the Neuroi are on the run to the north, and we have no casualties, one witch is unconscious, and of course, one pair of broken, prototype strikers." Marelda sighed. "Fauna?" "Yep, it's the animal," Karlyn concluded, getting her eyes away from the large binoculars. Marelda shook her head, and muttered "at least she and her striker are fine…"

The rest of the day involved the decontamination of the Neuroi miasma, and a nice, cold shower for the sweaty, dirt coated tank witches that freed the area. Fauna had woken up in time to enjoy the shower, and was afterwards given yet another lecture from Marelda.

"But…" "No buts! It may be your magic ability, but I cannot allow you to use it if you can't even control it!" exclaimed the ranting commander. They were in Marelda's office, a medium sized room with a large wooden table, several chairs, and some windows. On the desk was a small sheet of copper, with the name 'Lt. Col. Marelda Wittman' on it. It was the fanciest room in the base.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Marelda sighed, and said, "Alright, you're dismissed." Fauna got up, saluted, and went to the door. When she opened it, there were five witches in front of her. "'Scuse me," and she squeezed her way past them.

"Enter," Marelda ordered, and Odetta, Johanna, Karlyn, Jennifer and Elizaveta entered the room. They all saluted, which Marelda returned, and said, "take a seat." They all sat down, and the debriefing began.

The battalion was divided into five smaller 'companies', each with three witches, to ease command on the field. "Alright, I'm glad that no one was injured in the recent battle, but what about equipment?" Marelda asked.

"Only the prototype Tiger I Compact strikers suffered damage, which Porsche promised would be taken care of," Karlyn answered, her teeth clenched as she remembered the incident.

"That's good news, we'll be seeing perfect results come off the production line in no time. Well, now that that's settled, let's do the recap and call the operation a success," Marelda said, and the six witches reported the battle.

Meanwhile, Lara was busy groping Emma. The witches that were off duty are now taking a hot shower, and just acting as normal girls, and Lara could not get her hands off Emma.

"So soft!~" Lara exclaimed, Emma just keeping her poker face as she washed her hair. The other witches giggled, and Alicia said, "she'd go nuts if Jennifer were here!"

But Fauna was deep in her own thoughts, grieved with what happened earlier. I still can't control it, huh?... She recalled the thought of wanting to kill Kanako, and shuttered. I wasn't in control of my own head… she thought, looking down and holding her chest to make sure she was still her own master.

"Umm, Fauna-san, why are you touching-" Fauna yelped and jumped back in surprise, as she found Kanako standing next to her, blushing, and staring at her. "What? Oh, no reason!" Fauna said, faking a laugh. "Oh, alright…" Kanako said, her cheeks still red.

The two witches continued to take their showers in silence. Fauna looked over at Kanako, who was closing her eyes as she rubbed soap into her hair. She really is helpful… and kind of cute too…

Fauna shook her head, and turned off the faucet. That's enough hot water for you. She then dries herself off, puts her night clothes on (which was a large, white t-shirt, long enough to cover her panties) and headed toward her bunk.

"Hey Fauna, not gonna play tonight?" asked a passing base personnel, a regular card player. "Nah, gotta cool off," Fauna answered, "but put my bet on Kurt, I've got a feeling he'll be lucky." The bets were always a dessert at the mess hall. "Sure thing!" and he runs off.

Now to sleep…

"Remind me to never place a bet on Kurt again," Fauna said to Sandy, her meal missing its chocolate pudding. Kurt, a Karlslander fellow, looked over from another table at Fauna, with a 'please-forgive-me' expression on his face.

"That's why you shouldn't gamble," Sandy answered, giggling. She had finished her pudding already, always eating sweets first. Fauna puffed her cheeks and drank her orange juice.

"Fauna, Kanako and Alicia, the commander wants you to report to the firing range," said Emma Barkmann, who just entered the mess hall. Fauna sighed, and got up, making her way to the field with the Fusoan and Romagnian in tow.

"What do you think is the problem, Faun?" Alicia asked, using one of Fauna's many nicknames. Fauna shrugged, and said, "must be important to interrupt our lunch…"

As they arrived at the firing range, they found Marelda already there. "Commander." And they all salute. Marelda quickly returns it, and says, "we're going to work on your control, Fauna."

Next time, on Rolling Witches!

Fauna: DIE!

Alicia: Woah!

Kanako: Calm down, Fauna-san!

Marelda: This can't get any worse…