Valkyrie-624
Written By
Chapter 3: The Regrettable Reunion
A/N: Hey there! Sorry for the wait. Life kept bugging me with a lot of thing. This chapter will seems like the pacing is off but trust me, I'm working on it. Good news! Schwarzesmarken is finally greenlight for steam. Meaning less time for other projects. There goes my last few remaining free time I have. My story will follow the standard story of Muv-Luv Alternative, however there are a few big changes. This will throw plot off course but I will get it back onto the road again. With that, I thank you for your support and enjoy the latest chapter!
December 12, 1998
U.N Yamade, Sendai, Japan
The cold weather plagued the base with unbearable strong wind. The soldiers living in the base were subjected to unreasonable temperatures. Going as low as -10 degrees, one will seek any shelter from the cold winds. As the weather kept its misery course, a lone cargo plane struggled to bring itself stable in the unforgiving winds. As the plane lined up with the base runaway, a gust of wind blew it to its side in the attempt of throwing the plane off course to the runaway.
"Hold on! This is going to be a hell of a landing!" screamed the pilot as he wrestled with the plane control.
The lone passenger put on his seatbelt and putting his head between the legs as he prepared to brace for impact. The two pilots fought hard against the control as the plane slowly made its way to the runaway. Falling from the sky with speeds unsuitable for landing, the pilots held their breath as the plane touched the ground with a heavy thud. The landing gear suspension took the brunt of impact and blew the tire apart. Sparks flew as the plane grinded towards the end of the runaway. The emergency personnel raced towards the wounded plane as smokes rise from the burning wheel.
Three Hours later,
The security office for the control tower was getting quieter with every passing minute. With the main bulk of the personnel who were involved with incident had left after the questioning, most of the guards were happy to have a moment of peace after a hard day of work.
"Sigh… is there anyone want a drink?" asked the middle-aged security officer as he slowly stood up and walked towards the vending machine.
"Any sweet. I need it." Mumbled a young female security officer with her sliding down the sofa.
There were a group of three men who said that they were heading out for a smoke and left the two other security officers behind.
"What a day, huh?" asked the male security to their guest.
The guest was no other than the lone passenger who survived the landing.
"Please don't mind my staff. They are still learning." The security hand the guest a drink.
"It's ok. I got my own back home in base." The guest took a slip and sighed heavily.
"So, you are the new guy I have been hearing all day. Sergeant Major from the States, right?"
"Major Sergeant. Technically, my rank is equal to a Colonel but lower. It's a new rank that the U.N introduced sometime while back."
"Ah I see. No wonder I had never heard of it. By the way, I'm David. Captain of the 29th Base Security Corp." David reached out to the guest.
"Good to know the name of my savior. My name is Udy. Just Udy will do."
The both shook hands and started talking about their military lives.
"Sigh… Why do guys are so easy to make friends with each other while we, girls, need to go trial test?" the female guard on the sofa groaned loudly at the sight of her commanding officer being friendly to a stranger.
"Jealousy is one of your strong points, Sergeant Lina." David smirked at his subordinate.
"Don't mind her. She is like this since posted to my platoon. I don't really get her sometimes." David sighed as he took another slip of the drink.
"I think that she is more overprotective of you. That's what I am getting from this angle." Udy joked at the scene.
"WHAT?!" Lina jumped up in protest of the remark made of her.
"SEGREANT! Watch that tone of yours!" David barked angrily at Lina.
Lina sat back down with her head looking down to the floor in defeat.
"Captain. There is no need for such reprimand for that kind of outburst. It is natural for her to react in such a manner." Udy calmed down David as he walked away from them and proceeded to the window grill.
Snow gathered at the ledge as the wind blew new fresh one around the window. The sounds of the storm made many in the base felt like the death were calling for them. The howling made everyone feel unease and worry. With the cargo plane making an emergency landing, the runaway had to close down for repair and removal of debris and leaving only one other working landing strip for both take-off and landing. The technicians spent hours in cold weather, trying to get the TSF working and movable for combat as the metal tends to freeze at the joints.
"So, what do you exactly do in the U.N? If you don't mind I asking, Sir." David folded his arm in front of his chest.
"I make better TSF. You can spend years and millions in making new type of TSF to fight against the BETA. However, with the limited resources, I prefer making improvement in the older models. Make them last longer and fight better than the 3rd or 4th generations." Udy exclaimed proudly.
"And that's the reason my sister sent you?" a lady voice echoed in the room.
"Madam!" Both Lina and David stood up in attention and salute to the newcomer.
Udy turned around and was shocked to see his commander in front of him.
"Motoko-chan? Since when did you arrive?" asked a surprised Udy.
"Hmm? Motoko? Do we really resemble each other that much?" the violet haired lady questioned Udy in irritation.
"Huh? Wait, you are not her?" Udy realized his mistake.
"Sigh… You must have worked with her for a very long time if you called my sister by her first name."
Udy stared in awe as the woman introduced herself as his boss's younger sister. The famed scientist, who gave the world the quantum causality theory and Alternative IV, Vice-Commander Kozuki Yuuko. Similar to her older sister, Chairwoman Kozuki Motoko, in facial and hair style. It was not uncommon for people to mistake one for the other.
"She did told me that you will react like this when you see me for the first time." Yuuko smirked at Udy.
"Ah! Sorry about that. I'm just a bit confused. It's almost like seeing Motoko-chan." Udy shook his head in apology.
"Well, I'm not like my sister at all, for your information. And it is good to see you alright." Yuuko smiled happily at him.
Realizing that her smile was the same smile he had seen on Motoko's face, Udy took a step back from her.
"O-Ok. I hope that I'm not in trouble?" Udy laughed nervously.
Captain David and Sergeant Lina watched helplessly as the room grew cold and dark while the witch came to claim its prize. Only the sound of unholy laughter rang out throughout the base.
Dorm 31, Yamade Base.
13 December 1998, 0800hrs.
The room was dark as there were no light source to be found. The owner of the room covered up most of the windows with curtains and switched off all the light applications. Sitting on the bed, the person was rubbing the face slowly. Been at it for some times, the person ignored any noise coming from the door. Still in pain from the last night incident, Udy slowly got up and reached out to his chair. Making some mumbles about a certain 'witch', Udy wondered what did he gotten himself into.
Knock. Knock.
"Mr Udy! You are needed at the meeting room C4 for briefing." A male voice shouted from the door.
Udy looked on to the door. Not moving or tried to reply back to the message, Udy sighed loudly and stared at the picture frame placed on the desk in front of him.
20 minutes later.
The room was bustling filled with the occupants chatting away while waiting for the speaker of the meeting to arrive soon. The tone of the room was tense and moody as many would not spend their free time for a small incident report and debriefing.
"So, you heard about the flight? They tried to land in that weather even though the tower denied them."
"Must be carrying something important; to be trying to land in those conditions."
"Whatever! They must be some savior-like asshole who think big of himself."
The talks were seems to referring to the last night flight incident. As the mood swings to the angry range, a pair of ears caught hold of a topic most interested to the owner of the ear.
"WHAT?! Are you sure? C'mon, you're gotten to be kidding, right?" A military clerk asked out of fright.
"No! I'm not kidding. I saw him at the lobby last night. Smiled at him but that's it. Did not want to risk it, man." His colleague reply back in rapid speech.
"What?! He is here?! Shits!" Another man cursed under his breath as a group of officers slowly entered the room.
"Hmm… I wondered who this person they are talking about is." A ponytail blue haired lady spoke her mind out.
"Eh? You are interested in a man? That's unusual of you." An auburn red hair lady smirked happily at her blue haired friend.
"MUN-A-KA-TAA! Better keep that hole in control before I take control." The blue haired lady slowly stood up with an aura of darkness surrounding her.
"Munakata! Hayase! Settle down now." Isumi Michiru ordered her subordinates with a strict tone.
Newly promoted 2nd Lieutenant Munakata Misae and Hayase Mitsuki, of the 9th Squadron (Isumi's Valkyrie Squadron), A-01 Special Task Force. Both served under Isumi for the only 1 month. Being the top in class by their own batch, Hayase and Munakata served with professionalism and pride. Isumi was proud and glad to have them in her unit. However, their personality tends to clash a lot, to the point of Isumi having to issue heavy punishment to them.
"This is not the place for your attics. We are here because of Vice-Commander's orders." Isumi reminded them angrily.
"Alright. Settle down. Let's start the briefing." The officer, standing on the podium, calming the crowd down as he set his paper ready to be read.
"Ok, first order of business. Last night, the airfield had to shut down for five hours due to the incident with the C-130 making an emergency landing because of the bad weather. No casualty. Only minor damages to the runaway." The officer begun the meeting with the last night incident.
Due to the commanding officer of the base being relax on the way of having a meeting, one might say that this base had a causal way of doing things about. It was unusual but it made the men understand the situation they were in.
"And now with the main topic." The officer dim down the lights and drew the crowd attention to the screen in front of them. A map of the city Yokohama appeared before them. In the center of it was the dreaded BETA Hive. Home to the accursed aliens.
"As you can see, the hive is now completed and with it, the BETA can launch attack to any part of Japan without difficult. The Imperial Army is currently organizing a plan to reestablish the frontline into a new and improved defensive line near Mount Akagi. Today's briefing is to discuss any plan to retake Yokohama."
The room started to grow tense and dreaded as many felt that it was unwise to take any action against the enemy with the loss they took in the past few months. Some talked that the Japanese government were trying to gain favor with the U.N. as their military might was fading away with every loss they incurred.
"Sir! Is this just a theory… or are we been undertaking such an attack?" An officer from the back shouted to the speaker.
"No… It will be just a discussion for us to have if such an attack is needed." The speaker answered calmly.
"Meaning that we are going to." The officer sighed loudly to the answer given to his question.
The crowd grumbled loudly in anger. The speaker reacted worriedly to the crowd.
"So are you telling me that we should just abandon Yokohama and the rest of the world to the BETA?" A female voice asked the crowd.
"ALL! ATTENTION!" One of the higher rank officer shouted to the crowd. All stood up and stood in attention to the newcomer.
"Please be at ease. And sit down, we have work to do." Vice-Commander Yuuko stood before them, at the stage.
The display changed to a new map as Yuuko prepared to brief her men. "Well, let's get started, shall we?"
Leavesden Aerodrome, London
20th December 1998
The aerodrome was small. It could only hold small detachment of 6 TSFs. Yet it was enough for a group of special force.
"Ah! How I wish that I was back in base." Lise Hohenstein complained loudly to the comm. After been transferred back to the GDR's 666th TSF Squadron (Schwarzesmarken), she was happy to see old faces, even though it was a bit tense for her situation.
Lise was the step-sister to Captain Theodor Eberbach of the 666th. Having separated during their attempt to escape the Stasi control, Lise was forced into joining Stasi and worked with no dignity as a human. She was treated with little pity or respect and had to use her body to gain information for the Stasi. Her will was broken and her emotions running wildly in her days as a swallow (honey-trap). The only thing that kept her going was the promise of meeting her step-brother. And when the time came, Lise made the choice of getting her brother back into Stasi when she found out that Theodor was helping the rebel to overthrow the Stasi.
The cold weather pierced the cockpit and Lise hugged herself to keep warm. Her suit was designed to keep the warm insulated but she just felt the cold entering her body.
Lise looked at her left hand and realized that it was in this weather, when her life changed forever.
Back then, after her fight with Theodor ended with her capture, she was bought to the rebel base. Pham Thi Lan managed to score a direct hit to the visor sensors with an RPG before narrowly escaping a hail of gunfire from Lise's 20mm guns. The rebels wants Lise to be executed for her crimes. Broken, unwanted and in despair, Lise's only wish was to be with her brother. Theodor came into the room and hugged his sister. Tied and blindfolded, Lise knew that her time was up. She tried desperately to get Theodor to abandon the rebel and rejoin the Stasi. Hearing a handgun being cocked back, Lise told Theodor to forgot this version of her and always remember the days of her and their parents having fun together.
"Wait. Why must you do this?" A male officer asked her brother.
"I…Sh…Lise is…" Theodor choked in his own tears.
"Sigh… If I can manage to help Lise to recover, would you let me have her?"
Lise was surprised at the request. She can only felt the room getting quieter after the request was made.
"Why would you help me?" Theodor asked to the male voice.
"Because I had someone like her before and I made the choice to follow the crowd instead of saving her."
"But is this not saving her?" A female rebel voice yelled back to the male voice.
"Lise is not Lise." Theodor said in a regardful tone.
"Lise is your sister, regardless of what other said. If you choose to abandon her in her time of need, what will you say to your parents, huh?"
The room became quiet again as Theodor pounded his mind to the question.
"What make you think that you can help us?" Theodor asked.
"I have some knowledge in psychology. And besides, I worked with her for 2 years so I know the shits she had to face."
Lise's heart skipped a beat as she just recognized the male voice.
"No. No… No… It can't be… Is it really you?"
Lise woke up from her day-dreaming as Katia kept shouted out her name over the intercom.
"Ah! Sorry, Katia. I'm just cold. That's all." Lise smiled sheepishly.
"Seriously, Lise? I swear that you looked happy for a moment there." Katia laughed at Lise's awkwardness.
The two girls laughed at each other like sisters playing around in their free time.
"So do you missed him?" Katia asked happily. It was quite some years since she last speak to Lise.
"Huh? Brother? Of course, I missed him." Lise responded with joyfulness in her voice.
"Ahahaha… I know that. What I meant was; do you missed Mr Grim?" Katia watched with anticipation as Lise grew bright red from Katia's remark.
"AH!... THAT'S… WAIT… I… HUH?" Lise shambled her words during her attempt to combat Katia's remark.
"OOOH HOO! Someone seems to be defensive about someone." Kaita gave a cheeky glare to Lise.
As the two female continue to argue with each other, a lone figure watches from the sideline with a smile.
"Sigh… Just leave them alone and they became two little children needing an adult to monitor them."
"Come on, Pham. It is not like they can have fun all the time." A short orange haired lady patted Major Pham at the back.
"Anett. It is not like you are not a well-manner woman." Pham smirked at her short friend.
1st Lieutenant Anett Hosenfeld. One of the original member of the 666th. Took a few years to be an instructor for the new cadets entering into the squadron. Only recently just joined back as a member at the request of Irisdina.
"I can take that. I have to admit. I missed this." Anett smiled at the memories of the old days.
"All units! Please be advice that there is a small group of BETA heading to Wormley West End from Nazeing. Consist of mostly destroyers, they are currently at Lower Nazeing near St Leonards Road. The 25th Infantry is handling the operation."
Kaita and Lise stopped their antics as the alarm went off. Just as the news filtered in the intercom, Pham appeared on screen.
"Lise. Kaita. Follow me." Pham commanded with a tense voice.
Lise knew when Pham made that voice, something scares her.
"Pham! What is it?" Lise asked worriedly. Kaita gave a concern look.
"Anett! What is the situation at Nazeing?" Pham ignored the two girls as she watches as Anett bought her TSF on top of a fuel tank.
"My drone is showing me that the 25th is getting their ass beat." Anett exclaimed with a sense of humor.
"They pushing them back to Paynes Lane line. Can't see any response from the defense force."
"Huh? Didn't the info stated that they are mostly destroyers? How did they managed to get that far?" Kaita questioned the situation as the four women flew towards the scene with haste.
"This is Major Pham of the 666th. We are providing assistant to the group forces." Pham announced to the main defense signal.
"This is Captain Falke of the 78th Panzer Battalion. Glad to see fellow countrym- I mean lady. We are currently heading to the scene near the rail crossing at Nazeing new Road from Barclay Park. We will be provide covering fire for the 25th." A young male officer spoke onscreen.
"Understood, Captain. We will head in and hold the line till all have retreated to the second line of defense."
"May the Valkyries show your way to victory, Madam!" The young captain wished the 666th good luck.
The four MiG-21 Balalaika TSFs flew over the town of Radlett. Passing Shenley and Brookmans Park, the sound of K-25-300 engines screaming loudly over the night sky.
"Alright. Instead of in pairs, we will work as a team. There are many crossing at the Lee Valley River. However the Beta are focusing on the one near Broxbourne. There is a small island we could use as a barrier against them. The map show only one road leading into that island and a railway ran through it."
Pham might had used to give briefing and ordering the squadron. However, she felt comfortable and relax. Pham looked on to her screen as her three friends discussed their plan of attack. It had been so long since they had worked together like this. Lise may had tried to kill her with the 20mm, but Pham had put that aside since learning the improvement Lise had gained during her time of recovery.
From the distance, the 666th squadron grew closer to the scene of the disaster. Columns of smoke rising from the forests. Bright reddish-orange glow lit up the horizon. The sound of metal crushing could be heard.
"Captain Falke! What is the situation?" Pham pressed down the intercom button.
"This... Captain Falk-… Heavy conta-... 25th is alm-…" The radio was filled with static.
"Captain! Repeat. I say again. Repeat last trans-"
Before Pham could finish her sentence, a huge fireball appeared before them.
The explosion covered almost the entire valley. As the four girls searched for the source of the explosion, a buzz sound filled their headset.
"Look up!" Anett screamed loudly.
All four stopped and looked to the sky as the B-2 bombers carpet-bomb the Beta into submission.
"What the hell?!" Anett looked on with a surprised look.
"Did they called in an air support?' Kaita wondered out regardless of anyone listening to her words.
Lise shivered as the flashes of light reminds her of the days during the Stasi time.
"Alright. I just got word that high command have issue an air attack on the Beta. All unit are to be remain on standby." Pham told them in sigh of relief.
Pham noticed that Lise was shivering. She knew that Lise's past could not be 100% erase.
"Lise. Come on. Let's go back."
Lise heard Pham and looked at her on the screen.
With a cheerful smile, Pham asked if they should have a reunion dinner soon.
Lise could not heard that properly. Pham want to have a reunion with her?
After what she did to her during the Stasi period. After the pain she have caused.
She have right to kill Lise or cast her aside. All of the member of the 666th have.
But they did not. All have enough of losing loved ones.
Lise may have been their enemy, but today, she was their valuable ally and friend.
Pham's face showed Lise that reason.
Lise's mouth trembled but managed to give an answer.
"Yes."
To be continue…
A/N: Well, there are a few things I need to improve. I have decided to post every new chapter when I'm done and confident with it. Meaning that it will take a while. I know that not showing what happen next might turn people off, but I'm confident with it and will try to make it more enjoyable for you, readers. With that said, again thanks for your support and will see you next time!