MAR 1938
"This is Major Lucas Petrov to Berlin HQ. Jagdverband 37 has taken off. Requesting the Night Sky."
"Oberst Adolfine Galland on behalf of Berlin HQ to II./JV37. Your night sky. Over."
"Copy Frau Oberst, my night sky. Out."
OPERATION BIG BIFROST
ALLIED: JV 37 / JV 39
OPP: NEUROI HIVE "KARLSLAND AM MAIN"
VICTOR: NEUROI
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3 Weeks later
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Maj. Lucas 3POV
"Mobile HQ to all Jagdgeschwader Wings. Operation Bifrost is Complete. I repeat, Operation Bifrost is Complete. All Jagdgeschwader Wings are to Evac to Point Draug Immediately."
Stop.
"Mobile HQ to all Jagdgeschwader Wings. Operation Bifrost is Complete. I repeat, Operation Bifrost is Complete. All Jagdgeschwader Wings are to Evac to Point Draug Immediately."
Repeat.
"Mobile HQ to all Jagdgeschwader Wings. Operation Bifrost is Complete. I repeat, Operation Bifrost is Complete. All Jagdgeschwader Wings are to Evac to Point Draug Immediately."
Lucas awoke abruptly, the smell of gasoline and heat rolling all around him. Pain shot through his body as he attempted to sit up. He looked down upon his twisted and practically mangled leg. He looked around and was awash with familiarity as he saw the tattered remains of his old home.
"Mobile HQ to all Jagdgeschwader Wings. Operation Bifrost is Complete. I repeat, Operation Bifrost is Complete. All Jagdgeschwader Wings are to Evac to Point Draug Immediately."
Startled at hearing the transmission again, he shook his head and looked for the source of the sound, before realizing that he had his helmet and his radio still on him. However, when he attempted to reply to the broadcast, sparks shot out of his radio and went silent. He sighed in annoyance as he disengaged his ACE-R Flight Unit1. He pulled his MG34V from the ground, and after checking that it was loaded, he got out of the wreckage. Grunting, he rolled away from the wreckage just enough out of range to allow his magic to heal him.
Whilst the world was used to Witches, Wizards existed as well. However, as their power is more specialized, they are generally engaged less than the average witch was. Wizards generally had 5 types, as opposed to the Witches' 2. The most common type is the Enchanters. They are the least flashy type and are best suited to be part of an Infantry Platoon. Their inherent ability was to allow the Small-Arms of a limited amount of Weapons to be able to pierce Neuroi Shields and Armor, and have limited range.
The second type are Heralds. Like Enchanters, but for vehicles, like Tanks or Naval Vessels, if they are in a group. The third are Ghosts, extreme reconnaissance, being able to go undetected by Neuroi Sensors, and have inherent extreme weather protection.
The fourth type are Aviators. Similar to Heralds, but for a Bomber Aircraft, a single Wizard able to quintuple the Explosive Power of a single Bomb.
The fifth are Warlocks. A force of destruction in any battlefield, under the right conditions. With capabilities akin to an Uber-Witch, along with regenerative abilities and element-based attacks. Each Warlock is capable of manifesting its own special Flight Unit and Armor.
Lucas is a Warlock, albeit an under-developed one, as the initial evaluation showed him as an Aviator. His very first sortie as a Warlock is Bifrost and that meant that he was outfitted with spare equipment as his own has not yet manifested, leaving him unfamiliar and ineffective. Nonetheless, his Vaterland called to him and he answered with determination and Patriotism.
Lucas sighed in relief as his inherent magic healed his leg to allow him to walk unrestricted. Using a special device that all members of the JV37, he attempted to Morse code his Unit, but with repeated tries and silence, he concluded that they were either preoccupied or dead.
With that morbid thought in mind, he quickly made a dash for the outskirts of his hometown, evading Neuroi Patrols and destroying those that he could not.
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17 hours later
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Maj. Lucas 3POV
Lucas staggered into Calais in a tattered uniform and bloodshot eyes. Civilians evacuating from Karlsland looked at him with alarm, some running to find some soldiers to help. He dragged a damaged MG34V by the sling, large wounds on his torso and arms, and a distinct lack of glowing blue to denote magic usage. Constant ground combat when he was not designed for it has taken a massive toll, consecutive healing has costed him most of his magic, his reserves minimal to keep him going.
He was stopped when a Wachtmeister and his Squad came up to check on him.
"Halt! Who are you and why are you so injured?"
"I am Major Lucas Petrov, Warlock of the Jagdverband 37. I was shot down in the last few sections of Operation Bifrost. I made my way here on foot."
Upon hearing the explanation, the Wachtmeister and squad Saluted and proceeded to assist Lucas in getting to Calais Temporary HQ. They loaded him into an unarmed variant of the Panzerspähwagen and drove for about 15 minutes through Civilian traffic to the HQ. Once he got off, the Wachtmeister stepped off with him, and after waving his Squad off, he proceeded to assist the injured man into the HQ.
They moved swiftly and ignored most of the top brass that walked by, not that they cared, seeing the injured Major, and side-stepped to allow clear passage to the Head Offices.
At the Head Offices, the Wachtmeister knocked trice quickly, followed by 2 softer, yet deeper knocks, a form of code used amongst the Officers. The duo were given an audience immediately, but they did not expect to receive the Head Honcho himself, Kaiser Fredrik the Fourth.
The Wachtmeister fumbled as he attempted to salute, but in his blunder, he ended up dropping Lucas, who had been propped on his shoulder, on the floor. Lucas managed to stand up on his own accord, albeit slowly, prompting the Kaiser to call for a Sanitater. In the meantime, Lucas was given a seat.
Once the crisis had been settled, he Kaiser turned back to Lucas and smiled. "I don't know if anyone has told you this when you came back, but if not, let me be the first to say, Welcome back Lucas."
"Thank you, Herr Kaiser. It is good to be back."
"Indeed. Now Lucas, I'd hate to be the bearer of bad news, however you must know that you are the only survivor of Jagdverband 37. Operation Bifrost was successful to which all of our civilians had been evacuated, at the cost of 7100 Pilots and and 240 Witches for that I am sorry." The Kaiser apologised and had bowed his head in genuine sorrow.
Lucas, who had already anticipated such news, simply bowed his head along with the Kaiser, knowing full well that he would bawl his eyes out later, when he had some sembalance of privacy. The Wachtmeister, on the otherhand, did not expect the news, stood with dead eyes, hands trembling in shock. He saluted shakily and left the room with haste.
"I had anticipated this outcome of the Operation, Herr Kaiser. As you have said, we have managed to evacuate our populace out of the desolation that is Karlsland. That, I believe is a worthy sacrifice that all our pilots and Witches hope to make one day."
The Kaiser looked at Lucas with a new light as he listened to the wisdom of a young leader. Lucas had both gained and lost command of his JV in the span of less than a month. He smiled as he understood the yound man. "Very well then Major. Get yourself patched up and report to Oberst Galland in the Morning."
"Thank you sir."
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The Next Day
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Maj. Lucas 3POV
Lucas awoke to the Air Siren going off. He quickly dressed appropriately and donned his Generic Warlock Armor2. Grabbing his field repaired MG34V from the table, he dashed out of his temporary room into the first Hangar he could find, Hangar Bleue.
Inside he saw about 16 Gallian M.S. 406 Fighters being started by the Mechanics as the Pilots streamed out of the side rooms. As he watched, the Flight Master, a Flying Officer came up to him.
"Major! We are preparing to take off to fight off a Neuroi Counter-Attack! You should head towards the Temporary HQ Building for safety."
Lucas looked at the Flying Officer, only just noticing the man. "Oh, Flying Officer, I apologize, I hadn't noticed you there. Can you give me an update as to what is happening? I have yet to receive any Transponders."
The man nodded in understanding and read out the report that he received mere minutes ago. "Yes Sir. Our Rear-Guard in St. Omer-Capalle has reported an engagement with 4 Carrier Class Neuroi and about 32 Heavy Type Aerial Fighters. The Fighter Detachment there, the GC I/3 is attempting to stall them to buy us time to assist."
"Understood Flying Officer, do you have spare Transponders in direct connection to HQ?"
"I do Major, here, it is a single side Variant, a bit heavy, but it's designed for use in the air."
"Thank you Flying Officer, return to your duties."
The two saluted and the Flying Officer returned to his Aircraft. Lucas watched as the entire Flight left the Hangar, then moved towards the Witches Compound. On the way there, he fired up his newly aquired transponder. "This Major Lucas Petrov to Calais Temporary HQ. Requesting permission to enter the Airspace."
"Lucas? You're alive?"
"Uh…Galland?"
"Yes it's me you dunce! Why didn't you find me when you got back?!"
"I was injured and had a private audience with the Kaiser. I was too tired to find you after."
"Grrr…you WILL report to me after, do you understand?"
"I understand Oberst Galland. I am requesting permission to enter the Airspace."
"Enter the Airspace? Where are you anyway?"
"I'm running up towards the Witches Compound. I will commander an ACE Unit, at least I will be combat effective."
"Understood. Oberst Galland on behalf of Temporary HQ to Major Petrov, you are cleared for 1 ACER Flight Unit in Hangar B and are cleared to enter the Airspace."
"Copy, Major Petrov, out."
Lucas, now with permission and knowledge of a spare ACER unit, ran across the field, jumping over several guard fences and barely missing a flight of Witches, taking off. He entered the marked Hangar and shot towards the ACER unit, ignoring the Witch Commander, a Gallian Squadron Leader who had shouted at him. He donned the Spare ACER unit and it automatically integrated with his Armor, but before he could taxi to the runway, the Witch Commander from earlier had caught up to him.
"Hey! You can't just steal one of our Striker Units! Get your own Major!"
"Sorry Squadron Leader, Temp HQ has assigned me an ACER Unit from this Hangar, and seeing how this is the only Unit here, I'm taking it."
"I see…Hey, wait no! Major! Get back here!"
It was pointless, however, as Lucas had already taken a running start towards the Entrance of the hangar. The moment he cleared the large doors, he forcefully started the ACER Unit's Flight Systems, jettisoning him straight up into the clear blue skies.
Lucas sped at max speed towards St. Omer-Capalle, joining in with a Fighter Formation made of the RAF, Gallian Air Force, and Karlsland Luftwaffe. It did not take long to take contact from the Neuroi. It was clear that the GC I/3 had been annihilated, so has the rear guard.
As Lucas held back, hovering near the entry point of any reinforcing Air Units, he concentrated on his Magic. He held out his free hand and drew sparks as a ball of liquid lightning formed in his hand. A coating of sharp winds rotated around the ball as the power grew. The first few Flights of Witch Reinforcements flew past him without a thought, but subsequent Flights stopped short of him, watching in awe and a bit of fear. The Witch Commander from earlier made it onto the AO just in time and approached him cautiously. Not wanting to startle him and set off the Magic Bomb, she circled him and slowly entered his field of vision, making no sudden movements.
"Major…What are you doing with that bomb?"
Lucas, who, fortunately for everyone around him, had noticed the Squadron leader, looked up slowly, keeping the ball in his peripheral vision. "Squadron Leader, I am keeping steady, until I am ready to engage the Carrier Classes."
"Keeping steady, Major? You are releasing enough Magic to vaporize anything in a Kilometer Radius. Surely it would be better to slowly disperse it?"
"A Kilometer is the plan Squadron Leader. You see the Carriers? They are very close and are about to release swarms of drones, drones that will annihilate everyone in the air. The Fighters are buying me time to charge up and they have done their job. Go back behind me Squadron leader. I am ordering a temporary retreat for the Fighter Pilots."
"This is Major Petrov across all Fighter Channels, retreat behind the AO Line, I repeat, retreat behind the AO Line. I am going in with a Super Bomb."
Lucas turned to the Squadron Leader and lightly smiled. "If I fail, Squadron Leader, can I count on you to mop up the Neuroi and bring my remains, if any, back to Oberst Galland?"
The Witch Commander nodded and gave him a salute before returning to the AO Line with the rest of her Witches. Lucas looked back, and with a nod, sped towards the 4 Carrier Neuroi.
He weaved around evacuating Fighter Pilots, and at a point slung his MG34 and used his now freed hand to cast a Shield Cone, allowing for unrestricted flight towards the Carriers. There was no competition, the moment the Bomb touched the Neuroi, a bright flash of light came across the airspace and silence ruled the air.
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Lucas touched down next to the Temp HQ, towards the waiting Oberst Galland. She said nothing until Lucas came to a full stop and disengaged the ACER unit's Magic-Measure Engine. Then she punched him in the Stomach. Hard.
"Gah! What the hell is wrong with you Woman?!" Lucas shouted as he bent over, in an attempt to lessen the pain, not that it did much anyway.
"What's wrong with me? What's wrong with you?! You come back after a 3 Week-long mission battered and injured and the first thing you do when resortied is pull a near suicide attack on a couple of Carriers? We had several Witch Squadrons on-site, they can very well deal with them just as much as you can alone!"
"…Yeah, in hindsight, that was dumb, but it got the job done!" Lucas mused before rolling into a laugh.
Galland shook her head and sent another slap into the back of his head.
"Oww! Okay okay, I get it, I'm sorry!"
Galland nodded and hugged him tightly. "Thank you…for coming back. I've lost many friends and family during Bifrost and I'm glad that I have you."
"Galla-"
"Adolfine. Please? We've known each other since we were kids, hell we kinda still are. Forget the rank with me?"
"Adolfine then." Galland smiled as she released him, but Lucas had other plans. He grabbed Adolfine's arm as she began to pull away.
"Wait, Adolfine. I know you've lost your entire family and you know that I have lost mine. I also know that we're practically siblings, so why don't we formalize it?"
Adolfine, who had begun looking awkward as she prepared her rejection at Lucas's inevitable proposal of love, looked surprised when he asked for familial love instead, something they've shared for years. "Lucas, I don't… Wait, wait, WAIT! You want us to be siblings? Like actual siblings?"
Lucas, who was hoping that she would just say yes, looked up, confused. "…Yes?"
Adolfine, who now had tears in her eyes, hugged him again, this time tighter. "YES! Yes, I would love to be your Sister officially!"
A quick check with the Karlsland Office of Records confirmed their official sibling status, with Adolfine being 17 and Lucas, a year younger at 16.
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24 Hours Later
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APR 1938
NEUE KARLSLAND
"Finally made it to the new land eh sis?"
"True, it is very beautiful here, albeit a bit hot."
Lucas and Adolfine chatted while disembarking from a Dornier Do 26 Seaplane. They walked casually towards the port gates, before realizing that they didn't have a semblance of where they should be going, so they did 180 and nearly crashed headfirst into an Sd. Kfz 247 Armored Command Vehicle (ACV for short).
They fell to attention and saluted as the Commanding Officer of the Entire Karlslandich Armed Forces hopped out the ACV. "Ah! Oberst Galland and Major Petrov! I was just looking for you two. Hop in my vehicle, we're headed to the Temp HQ building."
Two quick Jawohl! from the duo and they were off. 10 minutes of awkward silence later, Adolfine finally gathered the courage to ask the pressing question. "Um…Herr Keitel, why were you looking for us?"
"Hmm? Oh, why wouldn't I be looking for the Hero of Bifrost and the Witch who coordinated it? I can't say anything, but what I can say is this; you two are in for a world of good-tidings and Public Relations."
Lucas and Adolfine looked at each other with a bit of fear and anticipation. Promotions are always welcome, but PR could only mean one thing, Newspapers, and Interviews.
"Ah, we're here. Come now you two, best get moving quickly."
The duo stepped out of the Vehicle only to be quickly pulled by a pair of Karlsland Fallschirmjager Guards. "Move quickly and make a beeline for the entrance. Do not look at anyone else keep your eyes forward and body straight. Be proud. Go." As they released them. As ordered, the two moved in single file, Lucas behind Adolfine, respecting the rank. As soon as they entered the building, they were pulled yet again by the Head of the Wehrmacht-Führungsamt, Generaloberst Alfred Jodl.
"SHHHHH! Quickly, come with me to my office, we need to get you two ready!"
And they did, double-timing to the Generaloberst's Office. Once in, the Generaloberst dragged a suitcase from behind his desk and presented it to the two. "Here you two, new uniforms, as ordered by the Kaiser, with a permanent patch sewn on to denote involvement of the highest order during Bifrost. Oberst Galland, you may use my side room to change."
Once all is ready, the Generaloberst spoke once again. "I'm sorry for the rush, you are probably confused. The Kaiser is currently giving his speech to the Citizens now on the podium, you two, upon signals, are to move up and stand beside the Kaiser to receive an Award. This will be shown in probably all news channels across the World, so remember, Grab, Shake, Lang leb der Kaiser. Got it?"
"Jawohl, Herr Generaloberst!" Lucas said as he prepared to leave. He and Adolfine saluted and left the office. They were directed to just behind the Podium by the Fallschirmjager and awaited the signal to come on. The Kaiser was just finishing a passionate speech about remembrance, sacrifice, and patriotism.
The Kaiser finished his speech with thundering applause from the Citizens of Neue Karlsland. He looked to his left, nodded lightly, and returned his gaze to the populace. "And now we are gathered here to honor our heroes."
The duo gulped and walked up the podium, a proud front, to cover the nervousness. The Kaiser waved his hands to silence the murmuring crowd. "These two are prominent figures during the evacuation of Karlsland. First is Oberst Adolfine Galland, a prominent Air Witch, and a tactical Mastermind. Her sharp skills and expertise allowed the Evacuation of Karlsland to be as smooth as it goes. For this, as Oberst Galland has already received Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, today we confer upon her the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, in service of her contributions. Stand Proud, daughter of Germania."
As ordered, Adolfine straightened as much as she could, grabbed the kaiser's hand, shook it, and said "Lang leb der Kaiser!"
Kaiser Fredrick nodded and continued on. "The award alone is insufficient to show how much Oberst Galland has sacrificed for her country, and for that, Oberst Adolfine Josephine Galland is now promoted to the rank of Generalmajor, effective immediately."
Shaking, Adolfine repeated her actions earlier, albeit a little quieter, as her emotions shook her. At the signal of the Kaiser, she stepped back and around, allowing Lucas to come before the Kaiser. "Now we have the Hero himself, Major Lucas Petrov. A Warlock of the Highest Order and the Commander of the Jagdverband 37, having lead the JV for 3 weeks, protecting convoys and eliminating Neuroi Strongpoints across Karlsland, leading a total of 447 successful Shoot-downs by the Unit, 102 of them by Major Petrov himself. Major Petrov has also saved the lives of the Wehrmacht's High Command multiple times, myself included, and for that, with little consideration by the Military Council, Major Lucas Petrov is now promoted to the rank of Oberst, effective immediately."
Lucas attempted to complete his action set but was stopped by the Kaiser. "Oberst Lucas Petrov, we confer to you, the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross in lieu of your many merits and unbroken will towards your Vaterland. We also confer to you a special title, for your many sacrifices in this Operation, stand with your head high, Warlock of Bifrost!"
End Chapter 1 / Prologue
A/N
Heya! I haven't written any stories for a while, in lieu of my service in the Military, I've finally have some time to write something new! Maybe give me some reviews? Thanks for reading!