Warlock of Bifrost: The Hunter

by Maj. Wipeout

AU. 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. Lucas Petrov is a Warlock, the most powerful type of Wizard. The First book of the WOB Series, it's still in the pilot stage, will need some beta testers and some reviews before I can fully commit to it. [I don't own SW]

2. Absolute Absolution

Hey guys, I finally got the time to start writing again, so here we go!

==0w0==

"Warlock of Bifrost"
JAN 1944
COMMONWEALTH OF BRITANNIA, LONDON

Oberst Lucas Petrov 3POV

Petrov sat in a posh leather armchair in the prime minister's office, 10 Downing Street, sipping on a watered down old fashion, surrounded by 5 of the most prominent men in all of Britannia. To his left, Chief of Staff to the Minister of Defence, Secretary of the Imperial Defense Council General Hastings "Pug" Ismay and Air Commander-in-Chief, Air Chief Marshal Arthur Tedder. To his right, Chief of Combined Operations Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas "Dickie" Mountbatten and Admiral of the Fleet Andrew Browne "ABC" Cunningham. Then in the middle was the big man himself, Prime Minister of Brittania, Winston Churchill. The five men were smokestacks, entire boxes of Cigars burnt away in a day, not that he could blame them, it's just their way of handling the stress of the war.

One might ask why an Oberst (Colonel), would be in a room full of upper echalon, the answer is quite simple, since the events of Operation Big Bifrost, Petrov has since been assigned as the Commander of all Karlslandich witch and wizard forces still station in and around Britannia, and thus become a regualr visitor to the good prime minister's residences.

"Lucas! Quit sipping that thing and down it! We have 3 bottles to go!"

"Winnie, you know I gotta fly back to Calais, it's too dangerous for transport planes to take me and it makes no sense anyway, seeing how I can travel over twice the speed."

"Ah you're too uptight Lucas! Fine then, what were we talking about?"

"A Budget. Rather the budget for the 501st Joint Fighter Wing Strike Witches down in Dover."

"Right, right…well what was the problem with it?"

"Nothing is the problem with it, there are no extra requests and nothing outstanding in their budget."

"Nothing? Then why-"

"It's because of teddy's protégé."

Air Marshal Tedder spluttered at the sudden accusation pointed his way. "What? Me? What did I do?"

Lucas sighed as he repeated himself. "No, not you, Teddy. I said your protégé. Maloney."

"Maloney? Why? What's he done?"

"He declined the budget, and attempted to strip the budget altogether, under your nose, might I add. His reasoning when confronted, was that Witches were a waste of money and it was not worth the money it cost to upkeep the witches, opting to increase the budget of my Wizards instead."

"You should be happy with an increase in budget though?"

"You're missing the point Teddy, I do not need more funds for my Wizards, they get good pay and live in pretty cushy conditions already, and there is no need for more budget my way. The point is, that while Wizards are good and all, you will still need the witches to the main-line fighting. We can't be everywhere at once and having a standing force of witches is perfect for that. Also, perhaps you missed me the second time, Maloney tried to do something that needed your permission on his own accord, without thought or consultation. If he really managed to get that budget through, although I doubt we would have a riot, we would lose our primary line of witches covering the Dover Strait, and by extension, Calais and my boys."

"I suppose you're right Lucas, it's just that he's such a bright man, and an excellent strategist. So much so that I'm willing to allow him to practically do anything."

"Don't get me wrong Teddy, I see your point, I have seen his successes, commanding aboard the HMS Formidable, and his penchant to ensure that all of his pilots get home safely. I admire his tenacity for that, but his dismissive and outright abusive manner of treatment towards out witches is something that I'm not willing to overlook."

"I get you Lucas. Look, I'll talk to him later about this matter. I believe you already have over-ruled the Budget?"

"I have, although he must have sent their Command team a draft or something, because I can see Oberstleutnant (Lieutnenat Colonel) Wilcke down there trying to get in."

The men stood and hovered near the window Lucas was pointing at and sure enough, they watched as the Wing Commander yelled herself hoarse at the guards.

Lucas stood up, finishing his drink and put it on the side table. "Thanks for the whiskey Winston, It was good. Best I get a move on and deal with that little issue. Teddy, remember what I said." With that he leaned out the balcony of the office and made a sharp whistle, making the Wing Commander and guards look up. He gestured with his left hand to allow the Commander inside.

==0w0==

Oberstleutnant Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke
3POV

Minna was absolutely livid. She just received the Budget for her Unit, the 501st JTF, and it was 0. As in 0 Pounds, absolutely no budget was given to her unit, a unit that has been keeping the Strait of Dover and Calais safe for 2 years now. Despite the attempted placate from her 2IC, Kaigun-shōsa (Major) Sakamoto Mio, she could not keep a lid on her anger and began yelling at the guards to let her in to talk with the blasted Air Marshal herself. It took about 10 minutes before she realized her voice had become extremely hoarse and she couldn't speak above a whisper. Before anything could happen, however, she heard a piercing whistle and looked up at the source of the sound. She was absolutely shocked at seeing the Warlock of Bifrost looking at her and gesturing for her to go inside. Minna looked to her best friend, who shrugged and turned to walk in.

Entering the building, they looked up at the man who gestured with his head to come upstairs. So they did, a little bit of stairs and they were seated in a simple yet efficient looking office.

"Oberstleutnant Wilcke, Major Sakamoto, firstly I apologize on behalf of the Royal Air Force for the trouble that you have had with Air Marshal Maloney. I understand that he gave you a budget draft of 0 pounds. I do believe that was a mistake as neither Air Chief Marshal Tedder not I have signed off on the document. Please refer to this document that I have procured from the Air Chief Marshal for your actual budget." Lucas spoke in a serious tone, pulling out a small stack of papers from a brown envelope and handing it over.

Minna and Mio looked through the papers, a little shocked that the value seemed a little more than what she was used to. "Sir, this is 50% more than what we usually receive." Mio said as Minna tried to but failed to do more than a hoarse whisper.

"Indeed, we have realized, as in I have made it clear to them, that your unit has been extremely effective in keeping the strait safe, and therefore deserve an increase in your budget. What is wrong with your voice Oberstleutnant Wilcke?"

Minna, try as she may, couldn't say a word and just hung her head while Mio spoke in her place. "She had yelled herself hoarse earlier Sir, with the Guards."

"That bad? Hang on, I'll get you something." Lucas said as he left the room.

Minna just stared at the Budget document some more. Its more than just money, a regular shipment of various Britannian food stuffs will be delivered weekly, a priority in equipment delivery and the promise of an upgrade to the castle's living grounds, by way of tradesmen from Folkstone. Even a small delivery of quality schnapps from Calais, courtesy of the Oberst Petrov himself.

Speaking of Lucas, he came back in with 2 steaming mugs of honey lemon water and placed them infront of the pair. "Here, fresh lemon and honey water should be good to ease your pain."

From there Mio and Lucas would discuss general deployment and Operation plans on a map while Minna sat in her chair nursing the drink and sighing in contentment as she sipped it.

A fruitful hour of planning and whatnot later, the pair returned to their transport, escorted by Lucas himself, excusing himself to return back to Calais himself after they had left.

==0w0==

Oberst Lucas Petrov 3POV

"Thank you for your assistance in our dilemma Oberst Petrov." Minna said quietly, followed by a light bow from Mio.

"It is of no concern, such a problem occurring would be an issue to us as well, so take it more of a mutually beneficial matter. I wish you safe travels and have a good evening."

The ladies stepped into their transport, a Douglas DC-2 Modified with Britannian colours. As they took off, Petrov dons his now fully actualised personal Warlock Armor and flight suit. He stands and took in a deep breath of the cool night air before taxiing and takes off, headed back to Calais. He barely passed Dartford before he found the plane that was carrying the ladies. He buzzed the aircraft a little, waving into the passanger compartment before shooting forward at speeds nearing the sound at 1,200 km/h.

The return to Calais was uneventful, as Lucas landed at the now fully crewed and established Calais Airbase. After taking several reports and filling out paperwork, Petrov crashed into his bed, a little after midnight.

==0w0==

3 Months Later

==0w0==

Calais Airbase, Eastern Sector
Oberst Lucas Petrov 3POV

"4 more carriers have appeared in over Amiens!"

"40 Heavy Types have just entered the airspace over Lille! Streikgeschwader 12 requests reinforcements!"

"Streikgeschwader 44 just took off towards Amiens, Jagdverband 57 return to Calais!"

"Jagdgeschwader 7, redirect action to Lille!"

Lucas looked around his command staff, as all of them actively yelled over each other into their respective radios. Sometime in the night, the sirens in each of their outposts rang out, scrambling practically everyone in the Airbase into action. Currently there were over 600 Aircraft and 70 Witches in active combat in the space around Calais. His own Wizards Squadrons, Jagdverband 57 and 63, have been engaging the enemy directly nonstop, filling in the gaps made by the lesser and more tired witches, who had to do an endurance flight across the Strait of Dover to even get close to the AO. Not that he blamed them anyway.

The Angreifergeschwader 15 and 16 had been sent out earlier in an attempt to lessen the amount of fire the main base is receiving from the Neuroi, targetting key Neuroi footholds, but it would appear the enemy has completely forgone any for of tactical superiority in favour of wiping off the Calais Airbase.

For as strong as the Base was, the Flugabwehr artillerie holding off the larger Neuroi were running out of ammunition, and he knew it. It was only a matter of time before they lose the only remaining foothold in Gallia.

Lucas took a breath before yelling the one thing that everyone hoped to not hear. "Retreat! Sound the Retreat! All forces to return to Britannia! We cannot hold this position." Just as he said this however, another problem occurred, which led him to believe that retreat was the right choice.

"Sir! Streikgeschwader 44 reports a Nest and Hive Combo has just emerged in Amiens!"

"Tell them to retreat, all forces to retreat! You guys too! Get outta here, I'll take out that Hive before I come back."

"Alone sir?! That's suicide!"

"Better me than everyone Leutnant. Go! Besides, I know full well that Jagdverband 57 will stick around and assist me even if I forbid it."

==0w0==

Airspace over Amiens
Hive and Nest Combo Designation "Verzweifeln"

"Hauptmann, I recall giving the order for all forces to retreat, did I not?"

"You did Herr Oberst, but you are still part of our forces, and it would be bad on our name to allow our commander to die while we all ran away."

"Very well Hauptmann, in that case, tactic 31, while 2 Aviators bombard the western spire. That should be enough distraction for me to take out the core."

"As you wish Herr Oberst. Jagdverband 57, to action!"

Lucas charged his Magical bomb while observing his pride and joy, the JV 57 go into combat. 18 modified Focke-Wulf 190 A-8 blazed ahead, firing their 4 20mm autocannons into scores of light Aerial type Neuroi who had come out to greet them. Meanwhile 2 Me 410 escorted by 2 Fw 190 A-8s had circled around the main fighting delivered a devastating blow against the Nest, blowing apart several spawning cores with approximately 4000 Kg of Etherite Enhanced Munitions.

With his bomb ready, Lucas blew forward, MG42 in one hand, bomb in the other. In short steady bursts of enhanced rounds, he punched through several light Aerial types on his way to the Hive. A lucky beam managed to strike his side, but his armor had saved him, deflecting the beam into another Neuroi.

Detonating his bomb, a white flash and the hive shattered into a million tiny shards. Seemingly angry or of similar like at the loss of a newly spawned Hive, the remaining Aerial types fought even harder, Beam Artillery from the Nest making it even harder to evade the beams. Even the best fails eventually, as more and more Fw 190 A-8s took hits that they couldn't evade or block, Lucas called for a retreat, for real this time, and the JV 57 dived to increase speed to escape the AO. Lucas held for as long as he could to make sure his boys get out, but when he ran out of ammo, he too turned and left, the remaining injured and dying pilots following the principles of their allies in Fuso, turning their aircraft and remaining armaments into magic bombs and crashing them into the nest, taking with them several cores.

==0w0==

That day was dubbed Operation: Sternengebunden, earning Lucas the combined total of 307 Kills, and what's left of the JV 57, 186 Kills.

==0w0==

AN: This is un-beta'ed, as it was really just a heat of the moment kinda writing.