"" Dialogue
'' Thoughts
And a new one. Jammed
Disclaimer: I do not own "Strike Witches", so this is just a fan made.
Chapter 12: Second Assignment
(or about splitting up)
Meanwhile, in the base, a few minutes earlier.
Noticing what happened moments earlier, Shizuka and Perrine decided to also search for Yoshika and after checking on the usual places she frequents and even being sure that her Striker Unit was still there, in the hangar they headed outside the base.
"I found Yoshika on the river the river a few days ago with Flying Officer Juutilainen and Flying Lieutenant Litvyak." Shizuka commented.
"Let's head there, then." And both Witches began walking towards the cliff behind the base and then through the woods.
"She was near here…" Shizuka said making her way through the branches and plants. "Nope, not here." She added noticing the river was empty and only the flow of the water could be heard.
"This is actually a pleasant place; I haven't come here yet." Perrine commented.
"Yeah, it reminds a bit of Fuso, where I first met Yoshika."
"Speaking of her, I notice you've got even closer to her."
"We- we have, I think." She blushed slightly. "Since I joined the squad, I came to understand her better and the days we spent together in Fuso I came to know her a bit more pe- personally."
"Yet, I've noticed she's not been acting like herself since she came back from Fuso. She's been ignoring more rules and being much more recklessly, even by her standards now she's acting defiantly, and she wasn't like that" She made a pause. "Do you know what may be happening to her?"
"Lieutenant Clostermann, I..." Shizuka hesitated to continue, and no more words were muttered, and both continue walking, speechlessly and just the wind whispering was the only sound in the woods with some birds at the distance.
"You should know by now that she always let her heart command her actions." Perrine remarked, stopping in the woods, glancing Shizuka Witch.
"I know that, but her instinct is almost always spot on, regardless of the circumstances." She said now glancing at her.
"Regardless of that, as you know, regulations must be followed even in this Joint Fighter Wing, which barely enforces military rules to begin with."
"I do know that… but…" Shizuka stated.
"What I mean is that I don't want her to get in trouble. She's not thinking things through. She's letting her emotions get the worst of her and now we're going to advance to Ingolstadt, and we must respond to our superiors. And her attitude would not sit well with some officers with higher ranks."
"Like- like it happened back then in Britannia." Shizuka stated with her voice fading.
"Exactly my point."
"Yoshika told me what happened, how she disobeying orders got the 501st disbanded."
"Yet, it was partially my fault. I knew she was still I novice by all means with little to no knowledge regarding military rules and it was me who put her in a situation which let her stubbornness got the worst of her." She made pause. "Nevertheless, I'd never expected it to escalate as bad as it did."
"I- I didn't know that." Shizuka added, recalling the whole conversation she called with Yoshika, but there were still some unanswered questions.
"Nowadays, she has Lynne, you and even me and everyone to keep her on check. But now with her magic at its full potential, she's been acting too recklessly for her own good." Perrine firmly stated with a hint of regret of voice, but Shizuka did not say anything and now she could not even look her in the eyes.
"If there's something you know that aid me to understand what's happening to her. I need to know it." She made a pause. "She's an important part of our squad and but most importantly she's like family to us."
"I am the reason behind her attitude and her stress." She made pause. "In Berlin, after we got separated, I entered the dome, and we were trapped in there." She sighed. "I- I got shot down protecting her and I was bleeding heavily, and Yoshika was there, crying, trying to heal me but it was not until I passed out that she could regain her magic back." She stated with her voice trembling a little.
"Group Captain Wilcke informed me about it, but it seems it was more dreadful for Yoshika than what she thought." The Witch-in-charge commented.
"Even today she still blames herself for that. And though I told her that none of that was her fault, she heard no reasons."
"Well, she's stubborn, I give you that."
"And now that she's in control of her magic, she's been training just to protect me and everyone."
"She's person who puts her desire to protect everyone above everything, that's what drives her. It might explain her attitude and why she's been overworking herself to the bone. I also was concerned when Lynne told me how tough her training was and combined with the fact she was studying at Lausanne at the same time." Perrine made a pause. "Even though she has the most magic power of us all, she still has her limits, and her routine is wearing her out."
"Lieutenant Clostermann, you must help her. I don't know what else I can do for her."
"We must speak with Lynne, she's the closest to Yoshika and together we three can think on a way to help her."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." She added and then an enormous shield appeared in the sky.
"That must be her." Perrine added.
"C'mon" Shizuka added and then a second shield of the same size appeared above the first one.
"So much for taking it easy." Perrine facepalmed.
In the forest, a few minutes later
Yoshika and Lynette were in the woods, walking back to the base, arm in arm, enjoying the tranquility of the forest and each other company.
"Why are you still wearing that?" Yoshika asked noticing she was still wearing her light-blue nightgown.
"I became worried when I noticed you-" Lynette shyly commented. "-left me alone on my bed."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you." Yoshika sheepishly added. "But I really woke up feeling pretty- pretty warm." She commented coyly as they continue traversing the woods.
"You don't even have your ponytail." She commented as she began stroking her long hair. "You look cute, but you look the cutest with your hair tied in a ponytail." She said making her blush slightly, but then she jumped slightly.
"Ouch." Lynette groaned, and took a look at her feet, noticing she stepped on a splinter of some sort.
"You're not even wearing shoes!" She exclaimed surprised. "C'mon, I'll piggyback you the rest of the way."
"It's not necessary." She bashfully added.
"It's my fault you're here, it's the least I can do." Yoshika said as her ears and tail appeared. Then, she bent down, and Lynette reluctantly jumped onto her back. Nevertheless, as she did so Yoshika lost her balance as if she were about to fall to her back, but she managed to balance herself, not before Lynette ended up hugging or rather grabbing tightly from the chest.
"I'm so so sorry." Lynette embarrassingly said, now just holding her from the shoulders.
"I- I don't mind it, it's okay." Yoshika said, blushing a little as she was not expecting that to happen and from her, nonetheless.
Still, she continued walking towards the base until she stopped on her tracks as someone jumped in front of them.
"Francesca! Where did you come from?" Yoshika said.
"I was sleeping around here; you woke me up. And what are you two up to here, in the middle of the forest…" Francesca asked giving them a goadingly expression. "…all alone."
"I- I was warming myself up." Yoshika nervously said.
"And I came to tell her breakfast is ready." Lynette said even more nervously.
"Y- yes, that's what happened. Nothing more!" Yoshika added, yet Francesca just stayed there, giving them a quizzically glance, until she put her hand on Yoshika's forehead.
"You don't feel that hot to me." Francesca commented making Yoshika's face became red as tomato. "Now that's more like it." Then, she grabbed both Yoshika's breasts. "Eila was right, something's growing here." Francesca added as she began fondling her while Yoshika was spaced out. "I bet they go boing-boing now!"
"They what?" Lynette asked almost whispering, though no one heard her.
"So, Yoshika, do you prefer me with my hair down or with bows?" She asked her, tickling her on the breasts.
"I- I- " She tried to answer but she just could not as she was began to feel overwhelmed.
"I'm waiting!" The Romagnan Witch playfully drawled, until someone appeared.
"Yoshika you were supposed to take it easy." Shizuka said and stopped on her tracks.
"Lucchini, what do you think you are doing?" Perrine said, noticing the whole scene.
"Hey! If Lynne can feel up her boobs, why can't I?" The Romagnan Witch said, still squeezing them, making her face blush just as Yoshika's.
"She did what?" Both said in unison.
"She did…" Francesca grabbed both Lynette's hands and put them over Yoshika's breasts "…something like this."
"Not remotely what I meant." Perrine facepalmed.
"Me neither." Shizuka added becoming as red-faced as the two Witches.
"It was an accident; I swear." Lynette pledged.
"But you're enjoying it, aren't you?" Francesca added teasingly as she continued holding her hands, making fondle her, with her fingers now behind her swimsuit, while Yoshika was just blushed as lobster with what her roommate was doing.
Lynette, then realized that she was the one who was feeling her up. "I- I'm sorry." She said, taking off her hands out of her swimsuit.
"Let's go back to the base." Perrine added.
Sometime later
By the time they came back, the rest of the Witches were taking care of the maintenance of the base and so, the two Witches now wearing their usual clothes, began eating their breakfast, while Shizuka headed with Perrine to the office.
A few minutes later, Shizuka came back, and they had almost finished eating. She then told Lynette that Perrine was waiting for her at the office. So, the blue-eyed Witch headed there while Shizuka took care of the dishes.
By the time she got there, she could notice that the door was opened with Perrine on the side of the desk.
"Did something happen Perrine?" The Britannian Witch asked her, looking a little troubled.
Perrine sighed. "How do I begin?" She said, resting her head on her hand. "Yoshika's feeling guilty."
"It's about what happened in Berlin, isn't it." Lynette said, as Perrine nodded. "I know her very well and I was expecting her to feel bad about not participating with us in the whole operation."
"Actually, it's not about that, it's about Hattori. As it is known, she was seriously injured protecting her, but Yoshika had no way to heal her."
"Because she didn't have any magic left." Lynette said with neutral tone.
"Yes." Perrine said softly with a hint of firmness on her. "That's why she's been overdoing things."
"I wasn't expecting to be like that." She added with some remorse on her tone. "But- but, I've already talked with her, and she promised me she will be taking it easy from now on."
"Yet she sneaked out of her room and went to train." Perrine stated.
"That's what I wanted to talk with you." She made a pause. "She assured me, she was feeling better after training or rather after warming herself up."
"She's feeling better because she rested all day yesterday."
"But I'm not so sure." Lynette tried to appeal.
"It will take a few days for her to get herself to loosen up." Perrine chimed in. "Even Commander Barkhorn needed time to completely regain her strength back."
"Shizuka come in." She ordered her, noticing the shadow below the door.
"I'm sorry for overhearing you." She said nervously playing with her fingers.
"It is okay. I understand you're concerned about Yoshika but where's she right now?" The Witch in charge asked.
"I convince her to study on her room." She proudly said.
"That's not precisely resting but it's miles better in comparison to what she's been doing." She made a pause. "Nevertheless, I'm going to need both of you to keep an eye her, monitor her if I may say." She added as the Witches nodded.
"Let me know if something occurs to her." She added.
"Yes, ma'am." Both said and headed outside. After discussing for a bit, Shizuka agreed to watch for her in what was left of the morning while Lynette took care of the lunch. The rest of the Witches meanwhile helped with the rest of the chores at the base.
After having lunch, Yoshika headed outside the base to walk with Lynette and shortly after they joined Eila and Sanya who were taking care of the plants near the entrance for a bit, while the rest of the Witches did their drills on the sky. The two of them continued doing that chore after the two sub-artic Witches left to fulfill their training duties. After they were done with that, resigned, Yoshika headed to their room followed by Lynette and then she began studying while her roommate was reading a novel, laying on her bed.
"Would you make a favor, please?" Yoshika asked.
"Sure thing."
"Would you take this letter to Perrine? It's for Althea, to thank her for the books." She asked, yet Lynette just stayed there, watching her with a suspicious look on her face,
"Don't worry, Lynne. I'm going to be here, just studying." Yoshika said watching through the window how the Witches practiced. "I'm not sneak out or anything like that. I said I was going to take it easy from now on." She added with some pensiveness in her tone. "And I'm gonna do just that." She said with a soft smile.
"I know, I trust you. I'll be back in a moment." Lynette said and, she picked the letter, left the room in that moment.
And as soon as she left, Yoshika then, stood up and began searching in her drawers for the dressing gown she brought from Fuso as well as the underwear.
Then she put them on. "What's happening to me?" She said, breathing a bit harder. "I feel so warm again." Then, she fully opened the window and untied her clothes a bit so that the fresh air cooled her down a little and then she just continued studying a bit more relieved and not long after her roommate came back.
"Is everything all right?" Lynette asked, looking at her, now more suspiciously.
"Why would not it be?" Yoshika said, turning around, covering herself a bit with her clothes.
"It's just that, it's still a bit early and it looks like you're ready to go sleep." She stated.
"These books make me so sleepy so, I just want to be ready just in case." Yoshika said with her more convincing tone she could use, though it was partially true.
"Want to cu- cuddle together again." She asked bashfully.
"Sure, just give me a few minutes, until I'm very sleepy." She said yet the night came, and she was just as lively as usual, even Lynette had fallen asleep over the blankets. Nevertheless, Yoshika had covered her with her own and after doing so, she continued studying, though now just wearing her underwear and she did so until someone knocked the door.
"Miyafuji, Lynne, dinner is ready."
"Coming." Yoshika said as she rushed to put on her dressing gown, still the Liberion Witch, opened the door just as she finished dressing up.
"Huh?" Charlotte said. "Were you in the middle of something?" She added with a lascivious look, noticing that Lynette was profoundly sleeping on her back and Yoshika was red-faced, as if she had been working out, hard.
"What?" She asked, wiping the sweat of her face.
"Our sweet little Miyafuji's finally growing up." She added with suggestive yet proud tone. "Just let me know if you need to know something, 'kay." She said winking.
"We weren't doing anything, I swear!" She pledged but Charlotte just turned around.
"Sure, if that's what you say." She said as she headed to the kitchen, meanwhile Yoshika headed to the bathroom to wash herself a bit and also to try to get rid of her redness.
"Do I really look that I was doing that kind of th- thing with Lynne?" She said to herself, looking at herself in the mirror. "I do look very flushed. No wonder Shirley said that, but Lynne's my best friend, I cannot think about doing that stuff with her." She added as she began filling the sink with cold water. "Why I feel so hot?" She wondered, as she began washing her face and few minutes passed with her face submerged in the cold water.
"Now I look almost normal." She said to herself a bit more relieved, watching herself on the mirror, noticing that her cheeks were almost in their usual tone. Then, she headed back to her room and thankfully Lynette was still profoundly sleeping.
"Lynne." She said grabbing her from the jacket.
"Lynne." She tried again and this time, she succeeded.
"Yoshika, I'm sorry I guess I fell asleep." The Britannian Witch said as she stretched herself up.
"It's okay, dinner is ready." She said with cheerful tone, and they both headed to the kitchen, holding hands. And thankfully to her, just Sanya was there, taking care of the last few dishes. They greeted the night Witch who left shortly after and the two of them were left alone and have dinner together. Some time later, they both finished, both did the dishes and then both went back to their shared room.
Now there, Lynette untied her hair and took off their clothes and put on her nightgown while Yoshika just stayed there, watching her, mesmerized by the scene, thinking about what the Liberion Witch said, and feeling how her cheeks reddened again. Then, Lynette laid on the far side of the bed.
"I'm ready." She said beckoning her to come the free side of her bed and she reluctantly laid next to her, then Lynette covered her in the blankets, and turned side on the bed.
"Have a good night, Yoshika." She said with a happy tone.
"Same to you." She added, trying to breath as normal as she hard as she could, then she uncovered herself and untied her dressing gown.
The next morning
Lynette slowly opened her eyes just to notice that she was now the one who was snuggling on Yoshika's arm, then she turned around and tenderly put her arm over her and her face near her chest but to her astonishment, she ended feeling up her bared skin with her face as well as her body, a million different went through her head in that instant as she felt her blood rushed to her face.
"Yoshika, what's the me-?" She said as she removed the blanket from her and to her peace of mind, she was not naked, almost, but not, and she was still wearing her dressing gown. Still, she noticed she was looking very feverish.
"Let's get you to the medic." Lynette worriedly said.
"I'm- I'm just thirsty." Yoshika said, breathing heavily. "I just- I just need some water."
Lynette then, rushed to the bathroom, grabbed a glass of water and soaked a towel and headed back to their bedroom.
A few minutes later
The breakfast was already served and almost the whole group was there, save for Lynette and Yoshika. So, Shizuka went to look for her in their bedroom.
"Lynne, Yoshika, is everything all right in there?" Shizuka asked as she knocked the door, yet there was no answer. So, she slowly opened the door, and it was pretty well lit as the curtains were wide opened, but then she also blushed furiously, noticing that Yoshika was, looking just as red as herself, wearing only black panties with a matching bra, resting on Lynette's lap.
"I'm so sorry to interrupt you." Shizuka slammed the door shut.
"Shizuka, nothing's happening." Lynette loudly announced with a serious yet worried tone. Thus, Shizuka then, opened the door again and slowly walked towards them.
"Is she having a fever?" Shizuka noticing the wet towel on Yoshika's head.
"I'm not sure, she's not warm to the touch."
"Nothing's hurting me." Yoshika said breathed heavily. "I just felt warm, that's all." She added as her breaths became more intense.
"Let's get her to the infirmary."
"I tried to, but she doesn't want to." Lynette answered.
"I just… I just… need a cold bath…" She pledged.
"No, Yoshika you need to go the infirmary."
"Let's take to her to the bathtub and then we take her to infirmary." Lynette suggested.
"I don't think it is a good idea." Shizuka said.
"Please, I'm gonna be just fine after I take a bath." Yoshika appealed.
Shizuka sighed, then she picked her usual clothes and put then on her shoulders.
"All right." She reluctantly agreed and both began carrying on their shoulders and slowly walked towards the bathroom. Now there, Shizuka began filling the bathtub while Lynette supported her and then, both put her into the bathtub.
"Are you feeling better Yoshika?" Lynette asked her.
"I am, thank you." She answered as she closed her eyes, while the two Witches gazed at each other.
"What's going on here?" Perrine asked.
"Yoshika's feeling a bit sick." Shizuka commented.
"She must be overworking herself again."
"She's not, she's spent yesterday's studying, I checked on them." Shizuka stated.
"Could she have snuck out of her room in the night like she did yesterday?"
"She couldn't, I- we- spent the night together, and by the morning I noticed she was looking very flushed."
"That doesn't make any sense, she's been resting. She must feel better." Perrine said, stroking her hair in worriedness.
"But she's feeling a little better. Isn't that right Yoshika?" Lynette asked her roommate.
"I am." She replied, with her eyes still closed.
"I'm gonna ask for someone to look for her." She said as she beckoned them. "We need to sortie immediately." She whispered, making both Witches wide open their eyes.
"Not now." Both said in unison, but they covered their mouths with their hands.
"We're going to be back in a minute, Miyafuji." Perrine said, yet Yoshika did not say anything, so the three reluctantly left the room and rushed to the meeting room.
As they entered the hall, they noticed that everyone was there, the two Witches took their sits while Perrine went in front of the podium with a map behind her.
"I'm going to make this brief as possible. There are four ultra-heavy Neuroi coming out from Nuremberg, annihilating everything in their paths." Perrine stated, making the whole room gasp.
"Four, the heck we are going to do, we don't have the manpower to take them down." Charlotte commented, putting her legs on the table.
"We could take out one or two but not four." Eila added, making the group nod.
"That's for certain, we can't. Each one is heading towards a different direction. To Gallia, to Berlin, to Ostmark and towards us, to Munich." She made a pause, marking their courses on the map. "The 502nd and alongside Group Captain Wilcke will protect Berlin. The 506th A and B teams, Gallia and we will protect Munich and stopping it from leaving Karlsland." She added pointing its route which passed through Venezia. "If it makes its way to the port at Venezia, the operation could get delayed or even cancelled. The armies are being gathered there as we speak."
"We can't let that happen." Francesca complained slamming her fists on the table.
"Rest assure Lucchini, it shall not pass to Venezia."
"What about the one heading towards Ostmark." Eila pointed out.
"It's still under heavy Neuroi control, it would be suicide to intercept it in Ostmark." Perrine announced regretfully.
"But if it maintains its course, wouldn't it reach Orussia eventually?" Shizuka pointed out.
"We cannot let that occur.'" Sanya stated.
"It will not reach Orussia, Sanya. The 505th will intercept it after it passes through Ostmark."
"But it will still destroy everything in its path." Shizuka commented.
"It certainly will but it would be suicide to engage it in Ostmark" Perrine said.
"We could take it before it reaches Ostmark if we split into two groups." Charlotte chimed in, crossing her arms.
"We could but we're not complete and we are not really sure what we are dealing with." Perrine stated. "Group Captain Wilcke is not here and Miyafuji's feeling sick, therefore, she cannot participate." She sighed. "I need someone to stay here to look for her and to take her to the infirmary."
"I thought she was feeling better yesterday. Very well in fact." Charlotte commented, glancing the Britannian Witch.
"She was but she has relapse." Perrine stated. Then, Lynette stood from her sit.
"I volunteer to stay here." She announced.
"Lynne, we may need your sniping skills." The Witch-in-charge stated, as the blue-eyed Witch took a sit.
"I'm gonna stay here, I'm still the newest here with the less experience." Shizuka added, standing from her place.
"Shizuka, what are you talking about? You're as capable as anyone of us." Perrine acknowledged, watching her with a bit of surprise.
"Yes Hattori. You're an important part of the team." Charlotte added while the rest nodded in agreement.
"I stay, I've been slaking, and I'd get in your way." Erica added, putting her arms behind her head and her legs on the table.
Perrine sighed. "If that's what you want. I guess that's settles it, let's sortie." Perrine stated as almost the whole group stood up and exited the room, while Erica stayed there alongside Perrine. Then, the Witch-in-charge walked towards her.
"Erica, Yoshika is on the bathtub, please take her to the infirmary after she finishes." Perrine stated with a neutral yet firm tone.
"Sounds easy enough." Erica said carefreely, she stood up and both Witches then walked off in opposite directions.
As Erica entered the bathroom, she noticed it was full of steam, but no one was on the bathtub, but the shower was running with its glass door closed and completely fogged up.
"Quite the hot bath you're having in there Miyafuji." Erica stated as she took a sit near the bathtub, next to her uniform. Yet there was no answer and some time passed.
"I'm gonna get something to eat, just wait on here. Okay?" She added but there was still no answer, she just shrugged and headed to the kitchen.
Meanwhile, in the sky
The seven Witches were flying towards north, in V formation with Perrine leading them, Shizuka, Charlotte and Francesca at her left side. And at her right side, Lynette, Eila, and Sanya.
"I hope Yoshika is feeling better by the time we came back." Lynette stated with a troubled demeanor.
"I hope the same." Shizuka added with more troubled demeanor, and they continued going north.
"Copy that." Perrine said. "We got new intel, the Neuroi divided itself into two, one changed its course, its heading southeast, towards Helvetia and the other one maintained its course."
"Not Helvetia." Lynette stated in low voice.
"And due to the lack of magic eyes, we can't tell which one possesses the core." Perrine added.
"Which means we should attack both at the same time." Eila pointed out.
"So much for not splitting up, eh." Charlotte sarcastically stated.
Perrine sighed, "Lynne, you're going to the stick to the original plan, Eila and Sanya you're with her. The rest, with me." Perrine made a pause. "Rest assured Lynne, we're not going to let it reach Helvetia. Follow me."
"Yes, ma'am." The three Witches said in unison.
At the base.
After getting lots of fries, Erica was walking towards the bathroom with a plate full of them and when she opened the bathroom's door, a lot of steam came out of it.
"Hey Miyafuji, how can you even breath in there!" She added, and she took a sit next to her uniform and a few minutes passed, and she had already finished her food, but the shower was still running.
"Miyafuji, I guess that's more than enough." Erica loudly said, but the only sound that was heard that of the water falling into the drain. Then, she stood up and slid the shower door open. "What the heck." She cursed, dropping the plate, closing the faucet, and rushing towards the comms room.
"Perrine, Miyafuji is not here." Erica said but there was no answer. "Perrine, do you copy?" Erica tried again to no avail as only static came through. Then, she rushed to the hangar, and there, she realized that only her Striker was there.
"The hell is wrong with that girl?" She bawled, not believing what was happening, then she jumped into her Striker Unit and flew as fast as she could to the north.
"Perrine, do you copy?"
"Yes, Erica did something happened in there?" Perrine asked.
"Miyafuji's gone missing."
"…. Repeat… self…"
"Miyafuji's not here." Erica added, yet now only noise came through. "Damn it."
"…Helvetia…"
"Helvetia?" Erica repeated to herself. "She must've heard that it's targeting Helvetia and headed there. I must hurry." Erica added as she flew as fast as she could northeast, even sparks were coming out of her Bf109-k4. "Now it'd come handy to have a Jet Striker. I'm gonna ask my sister to send us one." She said to herself.
In the northeast part of Munich
The four Witches were flying in Schwarm formation, and shortly after, Perrine stopped on her tracks as they now had a visual on the enemy.
"It's one of those days, isn't it?" Charlotte loudly announced noticing the gigantic bomber with 4 engines heading southeast, beaming everything in its path.
"We're gonna have one heck of a day." Francesca excitedly said.
"Hopefully they're not being attacked at the base with one of those things." Shizuka added.
"Let's get this over with so we can check for ourselves." Perrine said as the four Witches flew towards the enemy and began their assault. But as soon as the first shoots landed, it deployed drones to cover itself, thus the group split to shoot where it was unprotected. Nevertheless, it was futile as even more drones surrounded it.
"There too many of them to get through!" Francesca said.
"Agreed." Both Witches said in unison as now they were now just shielding themselves from the drone beams while the bomber continued shooting the ground.
"Fall back!" Perrine commanded and the group did so.
"What now?" Charlotte said.
"We must lure them away if we want to do something." The Witch-in-charge said gazing her commanded. "We serve as bait." She said to which she nodded. "Carry me and I get their attention and as soon it's unprotected. I need you to shoot it with everything you got." Perrine added glancing the two Witches.
"Roger that." They said in unison.
And thus, Charlotte grabbed Perrine from the shoulders and flew as fast as she could protected by Perrine's shield, shooting the drones and they began following them.
"Now!" Perrine said through her intercom and thus, both Witches began their assault, yet their guns barely scratched its black shield.
"We're gonna need more firepower and if we want to get through." Shizuka worriedly said.
"We don't!" Lucchini added as she stacked several shields "Follow me!" And then, she rushed towards the enemy and began cutting through it, Shizuka following her, shooting it in its exposed interior. But as both went through it, it quickly regenerated its shield.
Meanwhile both Witches were still lurking the drones, nevertheless noticing what just happened Charlotte stopped and so did Perrine and both Witches began shooting the drones but soon after, they began overwhelming them.
"Tonnerre!" Perrine cried and almost every drone exploded and the ones that did not, were shoot down by the Liberion Witch. But as soon as they were destroyed, more drones started to come out of the bomber, surrounding the two younger Witches. "Fall back!" She said panting a little.
"What do we do?" Francesca said now that the four Witches were reunited.
"We- we keep pressing until we find the core." The captain ordered the group.
"Roger that!" The three Witches said in unison.
In the northern part of Munich
The three Witches were flying in V formation and not long after, the beams could now be seen, hitting the ground and blowing everything up in its path and not long after the bomber became visible.
The trio of Witches then began to get closer to the enemy until some sort of fragments began to appear around them.
"Chaff…" Lynette said. "It's trying to keep us isolated."
"I can't contact Perrine." Sanya added. "Nor the base."
"Hartmann can handle whatever it's thrown at her. I'm sure they're safer in there." Eila commented but Lynette did no reply anything and just began aiming the main body.
As soon as the shoots landed, two smaller planes formed in its big wings and took off and began pursuing them and to their surprise, they became invisible.
"I can still sense them." Sanya commented yet it did not matter as Eila maneuvered through the beams and shoot them without needed to have a visual them only to make four appear on the wings but this time, Lynette shot them before ever they took off.
"I'll provide you fire cover, you two find the core." Lynette ordered them and continued shooting the drones as soon as they came out of the main body.
"Understood." Both Witches said in unison and then, Eila carried Sanya and dodged the beams to get closer to the main body, still Lynette now began shooting even the Neuroi cannons which now left the Neuroi practically undefended.
Both Withes continued attacking the main body, yet it generated its black armor quicker than they could damage it, meanwhile shot after shot were heard and every single one made it to its objective. Still some drones made it through due to the slower rate of fire of her anti-armor rifle, and Lynette had trouble take them off without a visual.
"Sanya, I'll find the core. Help Lynne to take care of the drones." Eila stated to which the Night Witch nodded, putting her fliegerhammer in single mode, as Eila continued with her assault.
In the northeast part of Munich
The afternoon had already and three assaults after, they still had not managed to find the core and the four Witches were reunited again.
"It's very close to Helvetia." Francesca worriedly said.
"I know." Perrine, was in front of them, breathing heavily. "I only have enough magic to- to destroy the drones one more time."
"The core was there I saw it!" Shizuka claimed.
"Then, it must be moving its core. That's why you haven't been able to destroy it." Erica said.
"What are you-" Perrine gulped. "-doing here?" She asked her, trying to regain her breath.
"And where's Yoshika?" Shizuka asked.
"She escaped, I thought she came here to protect Helvetia." Erica said. "I tried to contact her, but the comms's jammed."
"The Neuroi divided and this one's heading to Helvetia, the other maintained its course." Charlotte announced.
"Lynne, do- do you read?" Perrine asked with the same results. "Let's hope she's with her."
"So, we try the same strategy, Captain?" The Liberion Witch.
"Yes." Perrine panted. "But I- I need the three of you to attack on the same time." She added gazing at the Karslandian Witch.
"Understood." The Three girls said in unison and thus, Charlotte grabbed her superior and baited the drones away again and both began shooting them.
Meanwhile Francesca stacked several shields, Shizuka behind her, as Erica also readied herself to attack.
"Sturm!" The Super Ace cried as she and Francesca pierced the enemy but as they did so, the swarm of drones, started to get back to protect the main unit.
"Tonnerre!" Perrine cried stopping the drones from getting close to them. Still, as she did so, she began losing altitude not before being caught up by the Liberion Witch "Thanks." She added.
"Nicely done, captain." Charlotte commented, she commented, still Perrine trying to regain her breath.
"There's the core!" Shizuka shouted noticing it ended in the middle of both pierced sides, and with no place to hide, she began her assault and she managed to destroy it and soon after it started to vanish into white, glowing shards.
"We did it!" The three Witches happily said and then Charlotte arrived carrying Perrine in her arms.
"We- we" She gulped, trying to regain her breath. "-must reunite with Lynne and the others at once." Perrine said with the little breath she still had on her, nevertheless she managed to turn on the engines again of her Striker unit, and Charlotte let go of her, and the group began flying west.
In the northwest part of Munich
Yoshika was there, flying erratically towards the northwest part of Munich, still just wearing the clothes of yesterday with the addition of a towel that she was using to cover herself more, though it now resembled more a cape, carrying her Type 99-2 with one hand and holding the towel with the other.
"I can't let it advance." She said to herself as she flew towards the location she saw in the map earlier. And then, she had a visual of the enemy and stopped on her tracks and a heartbeat skipped on her, noticing the bomber with four engines.
"I can do this." She assured to herself, wiping the sweat out of her face, and thus she began her assault, rushing towards the enemy and began shooting it as she overflew it and managed to do a bit of damage to its black armor.
"Hit and run." She repeated to herself, panting a little and after doing a hard turn, she began shooting it again dodging its beams. But as she overflew over it, some sort of spheres started to follow her and began shooting her. They had little firepower, so she just used a small shield to cover her back and continued shooting the main unit but her 7.7 mm bullets barely scratched its surface.
"It's no use, I'm gonna need more firepower if I'm gonna find the core." She said to herself, then she readied herself to piece it with her shields until she realized that several spheres were beginning to overwhelm her shield with their combined firepower and started to surround her.
And to her surprise, all of them exploded around her not before she covered herself in shields, receiving little to no damage other than the debris that passed through the gap of her shields, which scratched her a little.
Then, she realized the bomber had no defense and thus, she made some distance and began flying as fast as she could with several stacked shields and pierced it from above to below. But, by the time she made to the other side, she had slowed down considerably, and it had already generated its black armor.
"I'll get trapped inside If I pierce it from another angle." She said to her own head and not long after several spheres had already come and were shooting and closing on her again and seconds later, they exploded around her.
"Ah…!" She cried, trying to maintain her shields. "I'm barely doing anything and I'm almost out of ammo." She said to herself as she made some distance to rethink the situation.
"Maybe that could work." And thus, she began flying around the main unit until she was surrounded by the spheres. Then, she stacked several bigger shields again and pierced the main unit, passing through it, still being follow and shoot it by the rounded drones and covering herself with another shield behind her.
As soon as she made it to the other side, she shot drones making it explode within the main unit, blowing most of its black armor an exposing its weak spot, and thus she began to shoot it only to realize something.
"I'm out of ammo." She realized, nevertheless little that matter to her as just rammed the core with her shield and soon after, the Neuroi stared to vanish.
"Huh? It really worked!" She happily said. "That feel pretty good and now I'm feeling as good as new." She beamed and thus, she began flying southwest again.
"Shizuka, Lynne, anyone, do you need reinforcements?" She said touching her right ear, only to realize that she did not have an intercom.
"They're gonna really be mad now." She drawled realizing what she had done but there was nothing she could do now, only to fly back to the base and hoping that they succeeded.
In the northern part of Munich
"Told ya there wasn't core in there." Eila happily commented, flying upside gazing the two Witches. "And it didn't make it to Munich. So this couldn't have ended better for us."
"Agreed." Both Witches said in unison, but the Britannian one did not look too relieved. The three were flying back to the base now that Neuroi had banished, but to their surprise, Perrine's group appeared in the distance accompanied just by Erica.
"Where's Yoshika?" Lynette asked the group becoming pale.
"We don't know." Shizuka stated with her voice trembling. "We thought she came to help you."
"I've tried to contact her as soon as I've noticed." Erica commented. "I'm sorry."
"I cannot sense her location." Sanya commented. "She's not near here."
"Don't you think she went to stop the bomber heading to Osmark all by herself?" Francesca commented.
"She wouldn't, it's way too dangerous to head there." Perrine stated. "And to engage it all on her own it's almost suicide." She added, still regaining her breath.
"That's why it sounds like something she'd totally do." Charlotte added.
Lynette sighed as her paleness was now accompanied by seriousness. "We must hurry."
And thus, the almost complete group began heading Northwest and the evening had made its way to Karlsland and there was still no sign of the missing Witch.
"Don't you think something may've happened to Yoshika?" Francesca commented, yet just everyone gazed at each other, and nothing was muttered for a few seconds that felt like hours to them.
"I'm completely sure she is fine and unharmed; she'd not let something happen to her." Lynette answered, with a neutral tone, still searching for her missing roommate and trying to reassure herself that everything was fine, that she was fine. Nevertheless, she was becoming more worried with each minute that passed.
"I can sense her." Sanya commented as she changed direction and so did the rest of the Joint Fighter Wing and some minutes later, at the distance, Yoshika could finally be seen, flying slowly but in a normal pattern, and though almost everyone sighed in relief, yet Lynette's expression remained unchanged.
Then, she slowly began approaching her, not saying a single word, glancing her in the eyes with a gaze as serious as she could have.
"I told you I was gonna be fine." Yoshika tiredly said with a soft smile on her face. Trying to maintain her balance and covering herself with was left of the towel. "Is something wrong Lynne?" She asked with some worriedness in her tone, now that she was in front of her but only a slap echoed in the orange skies of Karlsland as a response. As the whole group watched with their eyes wide opened.
"You promised me you'll be more cautious." She snapped with her eyes full of tears.
"I could not let it destroy what's left of Ostmark." She argued back but just another slap echoed.
"It could have been suicide." Lynette fumed as some tears had started to fall from her blue eyes. While Yoshika stayed flying there, puzzled, speechless and watching them, still regaining her breath.
"Yes, Miyafuji, that was too reckless even for you." Charlotte commented.
"You didn't even answer our comms." Eila added.
"I lost my intercom." She mumbled.
"We barely managed to take them off, how the heck you even managed to take one on your own?" Francesca asked.
"I somehow did it, like we always do" Yoshika appealed, rising her voice yet no one looked relieved. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry anyone of you, specially you Lynne." She added, as the Britannian Witch wiped off her tears.
"If there's someone to blame, I'd be the one to, I let her get away." Erica commented.
"I deceived you, I'm the only who's to blame." Yoshika added, without even gazing the group.
"Let's head back to the base, now." Perrine said with firm yet tired tone.
"Yes, ma'am." Everyone said in unison and so almost the whole group began flying towards, but Shizuka stayed there waiting for Yoshika.
"Aren't you too tired to fly? I could carry you if you want." Shizuka asked, with a soft smile with her voice trembling.
"Thank you for the offer, but now I feel fine." She said, trying to fake a smile.
"I'm relieved to hear that, c'mon let's go back." Shizuka said, extending her hand as both began following the group.
In the base.
By the time the base became visible in the distance, the sun had almost set and after landing. Almost everyone headed to their respective rooms, as the girls were too tired to even prepare dinner, not before grabbing a snack, except for Perrine who went to Minna's office.
Meanwhile, Yoshika did the same, though alone and now on her room, she took off her underwear, she put on the nightgown she borrowed from Lynette the day she arrived, and then, she started to climb to her bunk but as she was doing so, her roommate entered the bedroom.
"Lynne." Yoshika softly said, but she did not answer nor even gazed at her, so she climbed to her bunk. Meanwhile, Lynette untied her hair, took off her clothes, put on a nightgown, and headed to the bed.
"Good night, Lynne". Yoshika said with some cheerfulness in tone.
"Night Yoshika." She added, then she turned off the room's light and the silence took hold of the room.
Yoshika sighed. "I'm very sorry Lynne for letting you down." She added regretfully but no words were muttered as response, so she just turned side on the bed. "And everyone, again."
Meanwhile, in Minna's office.
Perrine was there, alone filling up some paperwork, wandering in her thoughts with how the whole assignment went, still she was glad that everyone made it safely to the base and plus the fact they managed to fulfill their task. Nevertheless, more things happened today so she needed to figure out how to handle the whole situation and she was doing so until the door opened wide.
"So, Perrine, have you figure it out why Miyafuji is acting like, well Miyafuji but up to an eleven?" Charlotte taking a sit on the couch, near the desk, surprising her a bit.
"I have, Hattori explained it to me. Yoshika opened up to her when they were alone in Fuso."
"Opened up, huh, and the two of them all alone in Fuso." Charlotte chimed in. "They definitely did something there."
"That implication is a little too farfetched."
"Is it?" Charlotte teasingly said, making Perrine raise an eyebrow. "Well, not really but Lynne and Miyafuji on the other hand…" She added, now the captain fully devoting her attention on her. "Just kidding, relax. What were you at?"
Perrine took a deep breath. "As I was saying, Miyafuji blames herself for letting Hattori get injured."
"It's happened before to some of us, and she didn't react in that way." Charlotte commented.
"She'd depleted her magic protecting Kiel and she didn't possess a mean to heal her, plus the fact they were trapped so it really was hopeless for her."
"Now that makes more sense. She didn't have healing magic or magic at all." Charlotte made a pause, getting herself more comfortable on the couch. "But now she's getting too reckless even kinda self-destructive if you ask me, like it happened to…"
"Captain Barkhorn." Perrine added with firmness in her voice.
"So, how are you gonna handle it?"
"As far as High Command is concerned, the mission was a success, we managed to destroy the two or rather three bombers."
"It is what happened, though, nothing to add there." Charlotte stated, but Perrine just sighed as a response.
"You should tell Minna the truth." Erica entered the office, wide opening the door and making the two Witches gaze at her. "Then again, I'm not in charge." She said, raising her hands and no more words were muttered, leaving the two Witches with pensive expressions on their faces.
"Minna trust Miyafuji a lot nowadays. I bet she'd understand her actions." She added.
"Well, plus the fact that she is as good as new. So, it's not like something happened to her." The Liberion Witch commented.
Perrine then, rested her elbow on the desk, and her head on her hand. "That concerns me, Hattori told me she could barely stand on her own in the morning and by the evening she managed to engage a bomber all on her own."
"That's kinda weird, but then again, it's Miyafuji we're talking about." She said taking a sitting on the couch in front of Charlotte. "So, I don't know, maybe she rests by training?" Erica commented making Charlotte shrug while Perrine was just left wondering what the super-ace said.
"Well Sakamoto instructed her, it'll make totally sense, she grew up to be just like her, training to relax herself!" Charlotte crossed her legs on the couch. "So, captain, how are you going to proceed?" Charlotte added, yet Perrine was still wandering in her thoughts, until she noticed something.
"Everyone, come in." Perrine said, seeing the shadows underneath the door. And thus, Eila, Sanya, Francesca and Shizuka entered Minna's office.
"So, are you going to report what happened?" Eila asked.
"Please don't. It would her in trouble." Sanya appealed, begging her.
"Yeah, she saved Ostmark, or at least what's left of it." Francesca commented.
"Please Lieutenant Clostermann." Shizuka added.
"How much time did you overhear us?" Perrine asked.
"Just the enough. So…?" Eila said.
"I'm telling you guys Minna doesn't like to be lied." Erica added. "It'll get you and everyone on trouble, and we don't want to get on her bad side." She said, while the whole group was watching the Witch in charge and surrounding her around the desk.
Perrine sighed. "I'm not going to pass a report of her actions, it was reckless, yes, but as far we're concerned, she didn't disobey any orders nor violated any rules. She was not in confinement nor in the infirmary, therefore, she didn't go AWOL but I'm still going to update Minna with her current status, verbally."
"Now that sounds good enough to me." Erica commented.
"Agreed." The whole group said in unison.
"We don't want to get ourselves into that kind of trouble again." Charlotte made a pause. "It ended pretty badly for Miyafuji the last time." She added, leaving the Fusoan Witch wondering.
"Told ya, my future prediction was spot on." Eila proudly commented with a card on her hand.
"If you're already knew it, why even come here on the first place?" Perrine addressed the group.
"To see it for ourselves of course; it's not like we doubted of you or something." Eila sheepishly added.
"I don't think I like how that sounds. I'll do what's on my hands to keep you all out of trouble." Perrine said.
"And we know that, and we're thankful to have a more chilled captain, kinda." The Liberion Witch added. "Now there's just one thing to deal with, what about Miyafuji?"
"She will- she will stay on standby until the operation takes place." Perrine stated.
"Will she though?" Charlotte commented.
"I think she will now, it seemed to me that Lynne slapped some common sense into her, literally." Erica added, making everyone exchange glances.
"Now that's something I've never expected to see in a million years." Charlotte said, now sitting, creating an awkward silence in the room.
"Join the club." Eila added.
"Me too." Sanya said.
"Me three." Francesca said.
"Then again, her stubbornness has saved our butts lots of times." The Liberion Witch commented to which everyone nodded. "But, giving the chance, I'm sure she'd do it again."
"Let's hope it sticks on her for a few days." Perrine added, still recalling how surreal the whole things, yet she had been there and done that.
"All the way in." Eila commented as everyone watched her with quizzically expressions.
"Eila." Sanya said, grabbing her from the jacket.
"I mean, she got injured for being stubborn, I didn't- I didn't mean to stick anything else in her you dirty minded guys." Eila said as now she was the only blushing.
"Guys, we're losing focus here, what we really need it's not to be attacked again." Erica chimed in.
"Let us hope that too. Now I need every one of you to keep an eye on her and…" She made a pause. "We need that Yoshika and Lynne to make up."
"I'm sure they'll be BBF they always are by tomorrow." Eila said.
"I don't think so guys. Lynne seemed pretty angry to me." Francesca commented.
"Just remind me to not get on her bad side." Eila added.
"We can discuss that tomorrow. Today was one of those days and we need to rest. And now that's an order. Erica, a word?" Perrine added, and most of the witches said good night but one. "You too, Hattori. I'm going to be there in a couple of minutes."
"Sorry, I got a bit lost there." She said as she headed to their shared bedroom. While Erica just stayed near the door frame.
Perrine then walked towards her. "Thank you."
"No sweat." She said, then she left the office afterwards, arms behind her head. Perrine, then closed the office and headed to her bedroom with Shizuka. Meanwhile, the rest of the Witches were waiting for the super ace.
"So, Hartmann, how Miyafuji got away?" Charlotte asked her.
"That girl fooled me, her uniform was…"
Author Notes:
Being captain hasn't been that easy for Perrine, but she's handled it pretty well with everything that has happened in these couple of days.
Sorry for late update but it's become a bit tougher to write now that almost the whole 501st is stationed in Munich and I'm not sure if I will have the next chapter ready before the next weekend.
About the innuendos, in the main series, they may feel a bit out of place, but in the take off series, they are par of the course. And, plus, like Lynne said, they're naughty girls with dirty minds. They will get a bit more common in the next chapters.
Regarding Yoshika's thoughts about Lynne, she has fantasized about doing 'formations' in her dreams with her in that's as far as in the fifth episode of the first season, and plus, she is growing older, so... but then again it's just my head-canon.
Hopefully the next chapter will be ready the next week and Minna and Mio will finally come back to Munich.