Strike Witches 2012 Episode 9: Warkeeping

[Minroz]

Intrigued by the situation unfolds in front of her especially the Maria’s appearance, Nuray has no idea what’s going on. From what she saw, the 501st are glad to see Maria is back. Sighing, she took out her cigarette and lights it, watching exchanges between Maria and the Dacian witch. Nuray smiles at the sight reminded of her times in her old squadron before taking a puff of her cigarette.

“Allah, what a crazy world we live in? So troublesome yet interesting?” she comments, chuckling to herself.

When Maria is near, the Turkish witch thinks it’s time for her to introduce herself.

“Your name is Maria, is it? I’m Lieutenant Nuray Shahin, Ottoman Tenth Squadron, it’s nice to meet you.” she smiles, introducing herself as she offer her free hand for the handshake to the Venezian.

[Hetland 2]

Adela could only weep as the smiling drunkard helped her up. Nothing in this world seemed to make sense anymore, but sometimes, surprises can be a good thing. Wiping the tears off her eyes, she tried hard not to look frail, but the psychological burden forced on her by her comrades' mass rebellion was weighing on her. Holding her hand up to Maria, she griped, "trust you to be masochistic... You had fun going on your masked hero marathons while you're gone?... But if you're here, who was in that grave-"

"Nothing, probably," went another voice, "I thought that sting looked a little too spontaneous."

Pacing in with to the deck was Fei, giving his signature gentle smile as he looked at Maria. He too did not see her return coming, but it did uncover some clues to Father Toti's arrest then.

"I suppose Bregoli roped you in to nab your ex-caretaker," he questioned, "might explain the sudden timing to that. Still, good to have you back. I'm sorry the news lately isn't exactly much to celebrate about."

Maria raised an eyebrow, looking truly dumbfounded. "Did something happen to Father Toti? Gaaaahhh!" She messed up her hair frantically trying to figure out what was going on for a second before stopping, brushing her hair back down and shrugging. She spoke to all of the people talking to her, "Honestly, its been too crazy to remember." She grinned playfully at the Nuray extending her hand out, "Pleased to meet you, Nuray. I'm Maria Lucinda. You know... I remember when I served with an Ottoman squadron a few years back, if I'm not mistaken it was the seventh." She grinned widely, "Fantastic pilots every one of them, and let me tell you, I used to live over in Venezia and I still think that squadron's cook was one of the best girls I'd ever met. Brave as any witch I'd ever know. She managed to get a kill when our cruiser was ambushed and they blew our engine sky high. During the middle of the fight, Aila grabbed the controls of a flack gun and let one of the nueroi have it. I swear, that girl was praying to someone up there and BOOM!" Maria punctuated the boom with a rapid movement of her hands, "Thing flies into pieces. The rest of the squadron finished off our share and we went down to celebrate Aila's honorary induction into the squadron. Miss those gals... Hope they're happy up there..."

"I...I don't understand what's going on. How? How did you survive. We all saw you die. It's. It's just not possible." Yuri stammered. He was caught in between a state confusion, fear, joy, and sadness. "This doesn't make any sense at all."

"Ma...Maria." Came a feint voice. Yuki's eye lay half open. "It can't be you? Can it?" She said quietly. She tried to raise her head to look at Maria, but found that it hurt to do so. She coughed and grunted in pain. "I hope it's you. I've missed you." She coughed again and her eye closed.

Maria turned to the siblings and grinned, "But I didn't die... I'm still alive, My heart is still beating in my chest." She rushed over to Yuki and lay her hand on Yuki's forehead, and whispered, "Its me dear, I missed you too..."

"Oh please." Natalie said. "I'm not going to be pulling any combat maneuvers in my strikers as is, so there ain't no point taking along a small gun that ain't gonna do any damage. Plus Ma Deuce has range." She said hoisting the gun. A commotion on the runway caught her attention.
"Huh?" Natalie grunted. "Wonder what's going on over there?"

Lysta frowned, "I wasn't referring to combat maneuvers. I was referring to the ability to you know, move as soon as you find it necessary, especially with your prop-strikers. But if you insist hand me the gun and I'll give 'er an inspection."
she looked up for a split second to try to see what was going on but looked back down, arranging tools infront of her. "My guess is the little Muslim...uhh.. Bushra... is probably causing a mess again. That's just my opinion though."

[Minroz]

“The Sevenths,” Nuray utters with enthusiasm. “Yes, I know them! They’re my good friends when I first joined the military. Thank god, they survived the cruiser incident. Last time I’ve met them, they’re doing okay. In fact, Aila is my former superior back when I was a mere sergeant prior to my transfer to the Tenth Squadron.”

“But with the war came around,” she felt morose. “I’m not sure if they can survive…Not when I have demons to face.” Looking at the plains of Orussia, remembering her Black-ops missions in Chechnya, Chernobryl and Georgia.

[Hetland 2]

“The Sevenths,” Nuray utters with enthusiasm. “Yes, I know them! They’re my good friends when I first joined the military. Thank god, they survived the cruiser incident. Last time I’ve met them, they’re doing okay. In fact, Aila is my former superior back when I was a mere sergeant prior to my transfer to the Tenth Squadron.”

“But with the war came around,” she felt morose. “I’m not sure if they can survive…Not when I have demons to face.” Looking at the plains of Orussia, remembering her Black-ops missions in Chechnya, Chernobryl and Georgia.

Maria paused and cocked her head to the side, "Aila was a witch? Huh.... Odd... I don't remember her displaying any potential... Oh well, maybe I just didn't notice it." Maria let out a loud insane laugh before turning her attention back to the Nuray, "So what do you fly and who's your familiar?" Maria continued to grin widely, "I fly a A-10 Thunderbolt II and this is my familiar!" She snapped her fingers and mouse ears and tail began to materialize on her, "Aren't they cute? My familiar's named Kaixa if you were curious."

[Al-Harbiyyah]

Yukine smiled at the resurrected Venezian Witch and said, "Yeah my pleasure and sorry for those words I said earlier." She then felt her scarred hand and can't stop smiling as she thought, she's going through a lot isn't she? Oh well. after Maria finished shooking hands with her.

Yukine then sighed, "Well, I guess this team won't be broken apart after all and I suddenly remembered Maria...it seems more like those scenes in Kamen Rider Double last episode when Philip comes back again and you really come back." She then looked back at the hangar where the Fuso Peacekeeping Forces finished carrying out some supplies from the cargo plane and went there before coming back to the Witches several minutes later.

"Well I don't know if you guys allowed to drink since most of us looks underage but I bring some...not so strong Sake for us to drink together. I brought it to celebrate my arrival but I guess we can also celebrate Maria's resurrection too." Yukine said as she brings a packed Sake with her.

[Finorskia]

Maria raised an eyebrow, looking truly dumbfounded. "Did something happen to Father Toti? Gaaaahhh!" She messed up her hair frantically trying to figure out what was going on for a second before stopping, brushing her hair back down and shrugging. She spoke to all of the people talking to her, "Honestly, its been too crazy to remember." She grinned playfully at the Nuray extending her hand out, "Pleased to meet you, Nuray. I'm Maria Lucinda. You know... I remember when I served with an Ottoman squadron a few years back, if I'm not mistaken it was the seventh." She grinned widely, "Fantastic pilots every one of them, and let me tell you, I used to live over in Venezia and I still think that squadron's cook was one of the best girls I'd ever met. Brave as any witch I'd ever know. She managed to get a kill when our cruiser was ambushed and they blew our engine sky high. During the middle of the fight, Aila grabbed the controls of a flack gun and let one of the nueroi have it. I swear, that girl was praying to someone up there and BOOM!" Maria punctuated the boom with a rapid movement of her hands, "Thing flies into pieces. The rest of the squadron finished off our share and we went down to celebrate Aila's honorary induction into the squadron. Miss those gals... Hope they're happy up there..."



Lysta frowned, "I wasn't referring to combat maneuvers. I was referring to the ability to you know, move as soon as you find it necessary, especially with your prop-strikers. But if you insist hand me the gun and I'll give 'er an inspection."
she looked up for a split second to try to see what was going on but looked back down, arranging tools infront of her. "My guess is the little Muslim...uhh.. Bushra... is probably causing a mess again. That's just my opinion though."

Yuki opened her eye and looked at Maria. She smiled up at her, than closed her eye again and went to sleep, tears of joy in her eye.
Yuri on the other hand just stared dumbfounded at Maria. Here she was, the witch he'd thought dead right after shed found a reason to keep on living, and yet here she was standing right in front of him. It then settled with him and he approached her.
"I'm glad to see you'r alright." He said with a smile. "I hope this time around you won't go getting yourself killed. We all love you, and you've got a bright future ahead of you. So for all our stakes, don't do anything stupid." He smiled, looking straight into her eyes.

---

"Hm." Natalie said looking at the group. "Whatever. Anyways here you go." She said handing over her gun. "It's a lot lighter when I've got my strikers on so it's not that unwieldy. Besides I to get to close to combat in the first place."

[Minroz]

Chuckling at Maria’s familiar, a friendly one. The Turk had feeling she’ll get along well with Maria but the Venezian does remind her of her Manchurian friend. “Cute indeed!” Nuray remarks.

“I flew the F-16 striker pack, one of the Liberion’s best so I’ve heard,” she answers, smiling. “My familiar is wolf.” Closing her eyes as the wolf ears and tails started to materialised on her. “Although I don’t name my familiar but maybe it’s just me, except my magical ability isn’t special. It’s just healing and regeneration.” She shrugs.

“Forgive me if I don’t have any super-duper superpowers like superman.” She jokes.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Maria paused and cocked her head to the side, "Aila was a witch? Huh.... Odd... I don't remember her displaying any potential... Oh well, maybe I just didn't notice it." Maria let out a loud insane laugh before turning her attention back to the Nuray, "So what do you fly and who's your familiar?" Maria continued to grin widely, "I fly a A-10 Thunderbolt II and this is my familiar!" She snapped her fingers and mouse ears and tail began to materialize on her, "Aren't they cute? My familiar's named Kaixa if you were curious."

Bushra snorted a couple of times slightly in spite of herself, the noise was meant to be a laugh but had difficulty making its way out past the thick wad of phlegm in her throat that hadn't been able to escape because she hadn't cried.

If she didn't think about it, maybe it'd be better. She just had to avoid thinking about it for now. Make conversation like a normal person....

"So was it you who inspired Katsumi here to name her familiar or was it the other way around?" Bushra said lightly, her voice breaking over every other word. "Or am I missing some grand tradition of naming familiars?" She continued, forcing herself to raise the corners of her mouth as if she were grinning.

Don't think about it right now. For now, just try to....

He betrayed you!

Despite a rapid series of blinks, Bushra couldn't stop a tear from running out of her eye. Embarrassed she rubbed the arm of her uniform across her face again.

[Hetland 2]

Chuckling at Maria’s familiar, a friendly one. The Turk had feeling she’ll get along well with Maria but the Venezian does remind her of her Manchurian friend. “Cute indeed!” Nuray remarks.

“I flew the F-16 striker pack, one of the Liberion’s best so I’ve heard,” she answers, smiling. “My familiar is wolf.” Closing her eyes as the wolf ears and tails started to materialised on her. “Although I don’t name my familiar but maybe it’s just me, except my magical ability isn’t special. It’s just healing and regeneration.” She shrugs.

“Forgive me if I don’t have any super-duper superpowers like superman.” She jokes.

Maria laughed, "Thanks. He's great. And don't put yourself down! Healing is a wonderful power I mean my super-strength is a plain as they come!", before turning to address the new girl, with a bright grin, "You're quite observant, but I only gave Kat the nicknamed Shachi after I figured out what her familiar was. She's the one who named him Kugami." Maria saw the tear running down Bushra's cheek and frowned. "Would you like to talk about it in private? I can't say I can be much help but I can listen and help you vent your troubles."
She turned and gave Yuri a thumbs up, showing she understood but couldn't say anything at the moment. There was someone who required her attention.

"Hm." Natalie said looking at the group. "Whatever. Anyways here you go." She said handing over her gun. "It's a lot lighter when I've got my strikers on so it's not that unwieldy. Besides I to get to close to combat in the first place."

Lysta shrugged and grabbed the gun, nodding and tapping the metal with a small hammer and listening to the noise it made. "Because you're part of the squadron, I'll give it a through looksie, so come back in an hour or so? Try to understand, there are some trade secrets and all that I'll be using."

[Finorskia]

"Hm." Natalie said looking at the group. "Whatever. Anyways here you go." She said handing over her gun. "It's a lot lighter when I've got my strikers on so it's not that unwieldy. Besides I to get to close to combat in the first place."

Lysta shrugged and grabbed the gun, nodding and tapping the metal with a small hammer and listening to the noise it made. "Because you're part of the squadron, I'll give it a through looksie, so come back in an hour or so? Try to understand, there are some trade secrets and all that I'll be using."

"Okay then." Natalie said. She nervously handed over her gun. She began scathing her head. "I would say don't break it, but I don't really have any worry that you will. I suppose the only thing I can say is be gentle with her. She's my only gun, and I don't know what I'd do without her."

[Occupied Deutschland]

Maria laughed, "Thanks. He's great. And don't put yourself down! Healing is a wonderful power I mean my super-strength is a plain as they come!", before turning to address the new girl, with a bright grin, "You're quite observant, but I only gave Kat the nicknamed Shachi after I figured out what her familiar was. She's the one who named him Kugami." Maria saw the tear running down Bushra's cheek and frowned. "Would you like to talk about it in private? I can't say I can be much help but I can listen and help you vent your troubles."
She turned and gave Yuri a thumbs up, showing she understood but couldn't say anything at the moment. There was someone who required her attention.

Bushra jerked slightly and then glanced at her feet, embarrassed.

"No, no I'm fine I just--" Bushra closed her eyes for a moment, "I'm fine. Good to meet you Maria, I've heard nothing but good things about you."

Bushra glanced up one last time and pointed back towards the hangar. "I'm just going to go check my strikers." She said quickly, reaching for an excuse to leave. If she didn't think about it, if she didn't talk about it...

Bushra turned and started back towards the hangar.

[Hetland 2]

"Okay then." Natalie said. She nervously handed over her gun. She began scathing her head. "I would say don't break it, but I don't really have any worry that you will. I suppose the only thing I can say is be gentle with her. She's my only gun, and I don't know what I'd do without her."

Lysta gave Natalie a face that expressed nothing but very mild annoyance. Her voice was a little shaky, "Dear me, it seems that we have a misunderstanding. I have a 100% success rate for fixing and modification. You don't need to worry. You're gun's in the best hands in Europe." She waggled her finger as if to chastise Natalie though her expression said it was nothing more than a sign to not worry.

Bushra jerked slightly and then glanced at her feet, embarrassed.

"No, no I'm fine I just--" Bushra closed her eyes for a moment, "I'm fine. Good to meet you Maria, I've heard nothing but good things about you."

Bushra glanced up one last time and pointed back towards the hangar. "I'm just going to go check my strikers." She said quickly, reaching for an excuse to leave. If she didn't think about it, if she didn't talk about it...

Bushra turned and started back towards the hangar.

Maria paused, before calling out to Bushra, "Wait! Can I come with you! I wanna see how my strikers are doing!" Regardless of the answer Maria still followed, Kaixa's tail and head disappearing.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Maria paused, before calling out to Bushra, "Wait! Can I come with you! I wanna see how my strikers are doing!" Regardless of the answer Maria still followed, Kaixa's tail and head disappearing.

Bushra glanced back at the recently resurrected witch who was now following her and suppressed a mild strain of completely unfounded annoyance. Why didn't she stick around with the rest of the squadron? Surely they had catching up to do or something?

"Sure. I don't care." Bushra muttered, meaning the words in more ways than one. Or at least, trying to mean them in more ways than one.

She just had to keep her mind on something else. Other things. Normal things.

He BETRAYED you! He LIED to you! WHY?

Bushra shook her head slightly and bit a lip. Mind on something else...

I wonder if my strikers are due for any maintenance? The flight over here was rather long for them, so perhaps I need to go through it? Or get one of the engineers to do it. But, I could at least take a cursory look at them, make sure there's nothing obviously wrong.

[Wolfenium]

Maria paused, before calling out to Bushra, "Wait! Can I come with you! I wanna see how my strikers are doing!" Regardless of the answer Maria still followed, Kaixa's tail and head disappearing.

Fei froze on the spot hearing the words. He never expected Maria to come back since she was technically declared dead. Pausing for a moment, he struggled to find the words to describe it.

"I... I don't think you should go in just yet..." he stammered in worry, "I mean... uhh... you're a single woman with no next of kin... well, no known next of kin... so uhh..."

"He left it in Bresica with your long lost sister," Adela cut in in a flat voice, "I mean, we didn't think you'll need it anymore. What do you expect from convalescing for a week in heaven or hell'?"

[Al-Harbiyyah]

Yukine stood there as the crowd of Witches began to dispersed, she still holding that sake bottle in her hand but again, she didn't mind being ignored as she always like that during her own childhood.

Yukine sighed again and again but still keeps her smile as she said, "Oh well, I guess its you and me isn't it Mick?" she said to her familiar and comes out the ears and tails of the Fusoan Bobcat familiar she named it Mick as a reference to the iconic cat in Kamen Rider Double series.

Ever since she was little, she is a girl who always being ignored because she sometimes looked as she talks to herself which makes other childs more wary of her. She's actually could talk to her own familiar which she knew before becoming a Witch. It was because of Mick who always gives her support she always shown optimism and cheerfulness all the time.

"Oh and that's brings to the next question...I think I'm going to check my own Striker too," She said before heading back to her Striker which she dismounted after landing to help Yuki.

[Firstaria]

"COWARD," yelled a sharp, familiar-sounding voice as the other witches embraced the scarred witch. Breaking the sudden, reconciliatory mood, A punch soon flung in Maria's direction, throwing her to the floor as Adela mounted her with a stream of pained tears in her eyes. Pounding her face to the floor, she looked every bit the outraged, easily angered witch she used to be.

"How dare you come back," she barked in rage, "who gave you the right to play Jesus!? Do you know how much tears these saps poured for you!? Do you know how much shit happened since you were gone!? Do you know how much the squad fell apart because you recklessly endangered your life!? You should have stayed dead for all I care! Why do you have to show up now Why do you..."

As the punches depleted, Adela's lowered her forehead onto Maria's, sobbing uncontrollably as she held on to the girl's collar. Nothing seems to make sense for her anymore. Everything that happened so far had been a total nightmare. But at least for once, there was a glimmer of hope. If even the dead can return, perhaps another miracle can happen again. Needless to say, those were not the tears of sorrow Adela had shed for so long. For once, they were tears of joy.

Maria just smiled and waited until Adela was done, tears down on Maria's face, mingling with Maria's own tears. She embraced her former crush in her scarred arms, weeping happily, "I'm sorry I made you angry again Angel. I'm sorry that I did it again... I know... and I'm... well... I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry. I missed you so much. I missed you all so goddamn much. I was so scared back there. I...I don't even know why I'm here. But... I know you'll just hit me again for this... but I just kept remembering Skyrider saying, 'Don't worry, I'll get through this somehow.' Isn't that stupid. Even stuck in the past, I can't keep my mind off Kamen Rider..." She wiped her tears and got back up, helping Adela back up to address the new witch who'd evidently been added to the roster in her absence.
"I resent the implications that you make but at the same time I understand them completely." She grabbed Yukine's hands in her own, the scarred palms scrapping against Yukine's, "Thank you very much for your support! I hope we can work together as well."
Maria paused and gave a half-hearted laugh, looking around, "So... anyone got any...Booze I can have... I seem to have misplaced my flask."

Sarah noticed how Maria completely ignored her presence, and was a bit disappointed.

We never belonged here to begin with, after that we become more closer, but never part of them.

And for a second, a sadness more normal for her could be seen in her face, quickly replaced back by her new self control. She still had to wipe her eyes a little however.

[Al-Harbiyyah]

Maria just smiled and waited until Adela was done, tears down on Maria's face, mingling with Maria's own tears. She embraced her former crush in her scarred arms, weeping happily, "I'm sorry I made you angry again Angel. I'm sorry that I did it again... I know... and I'm... well... I'm really sorry. I'm so sorry. I missed you so much. I missed you all so goddamn much. I was so scared back there. I...I don't even know why I'm here. But... I know you'll just hit me again for this... but I just kept remembering Skyrider saying, 'Don't worry, I'll get through this somehow.' Isn't that stupid. Even stuck in the past, I can't keep my mind off Kamen Rider..." She wiped her tears and got back up, helping Adela back up to address the new witch who'd evidently been added to the roster in her absence.
"I resent the implications that you make but at the same time I understand them completely." She grabbed Yukine's hands in her own, the scarred palms scrapping against Yukine's, "Thank you very much for your support! I hope we can work together as well."
Maria paused and gave a half-hearted laugh, looking around, "So... anyone got any...Booze I can have... I seem to have misplaced my flask."

Sarah noticed how Maria completely ignored her presence, and was a bit disappointed.

We never belonged here to begin with, after that we become more closer, but never part of them.

And for a second, a sadness more normal for her could be seen in her face, quickly replaced back by her new self control. She still had to wipe her eyes a little however.

After checking and kept the Striker Unit on a hangar provided, Yukine noticed a Witch wiping her eyes and noticed that people seems to ignored her presence. Yukine felt sad for a moment but then smiled back as she walks to the lone Witch.

"I guess no one noticed you yet huh? I don't know how to say this but you don't have to be sad like that. Cheer up okay, you need to be more open. Oh by the way I'm Captain Yukine Ishizawa, a new Witch but you can call me Yukine." Yukine said as she smiled at her and give her a handkerchief from her pocket.

[Minroz]

Watching the witches being dispersed, Nuray took a puff of her cigarette, smiling to herself. At times, she prefers to be a loner unless she’s accompanied by people she trusts. It stems from her paranoia, since Nuray made a lot of powerful enemies, whether they’re her countrymen and foreign agents. Looking up at the Orussian sky, contemplating how the locals live such grim lives in their country, it’s cold in contrast to her native Anatolia.

“I wonder what it feels like to travel around Orussia, even though they’re my people’s mortal enemies since the old days.” She thought. “Oh well, God willing, there’re be no wars in the future.”

Looking at the 501st, wry with amusement “This is such a motley group, I pray for our success in our fight against the Neurois.” She frowns. “And the sycophants who ruled this world.”

Sighing as she took a puff of her smoke. “Maybe I should check my striker pack to see if it’s good condition. I don’t want anything happens to it.”

---

-snip-

-snip-

Moments later, entering the hanger, still with her cigarette in her mouth, Nuray had made a brief inspection on her F-16. Satisfied with its condition, she patted it gently as if it’s her beloved pet.

“Respect you striker pack, it will give you many victories though thick and thin.” Nuray recite one of her superior favourite sayings. “Really, Captain Aila. I think it’s very cheesy than the sermons we heard in the mosque.” She chuckles lightly at the memory.

Decided to walk out of the hanger, Nuray passes by Sarah and Yukine. Waving her hand lazily to gain their attention, she grins.

“Hey Sarah, Hey Yukine.” She offers them her cigarettes. “Want to smoke?”

[Chulainan]

"Okay then." Natalie said. She nervously handed over her gun. She began scathing her head. "I would say don't break it, but I don't really have any worry that you will. I suppose the only thing I can say is be gentle with her. She's my only gun, and I don't know what I'd do without her."

Lysta gave Natalie a face that expressed nothing but very mild annoyance. Her voice was a little shaky, "Dear me, it seems that we have a misunderstanding. I have a 100% success rate for fixing and modification. You don't need to worry. You're gun's in the best hands in Europe." She waggled her finger as if to chastise Natalie though her expression said it was nothing more than a sign to not worry.

Bushra jerked slightly and then glanced at her feet, embarrassed.

"No, no I'm fine I just--" Bushra closed her eyes for a moment, "I'm fine. Good to meet you Maria, I've heard nothing but good things about you."

Bushra glanced up one last time and pointed back towards the hangar. "I'm just going to go check my strikers." She said quickly, reaching for an excuse to leave. If she didn't think about it, if she didn't talk about it...

Bushra turned and started back towards the hangar.

Maria paused, before calling out to Bushra, "Wait! Can I come with you! I wanna see how my strikers are doing!" Regardless of the answer Maria still followed, Kaixa's tail and head disappearing.

"Actually I was referring to that time you fell over while trying to bring everyone's weapons for maintenance in your room on our first day in base, for a good first impression" grinned Eeva, "I had to go save you, but hey, I'm going to check what all the commotion is about, good luck"

Walking down the corridor, Eeva heard crying and walked in to see a ton of witches surrounding.....Maria. Eeva walked forward her eyes wide, face pale before poking her in the face. she breathed a sigh of relief.

"Not a ghost then, awesome" laughed Eeva, "welcome back"

[Al-Harbiyyah]

Watching the witches being dispersed, Nuray took a puff of her cigarette, smiling to herself. At times, she prefers to be a loner unless she’s accompanied by people she trusts. It stems from her paranoia, since Nuray made a lot of powerful enemies, whether they’re her countrymen and foreign agents. Looking up at the Orussian sky, contemplating how the locals live such grim lives in their country, it’s cold in contrast to her native Anatolia.

“I wonder what it feels like to travel around Orussia, even though they’re my people’s mortal enemies since the old days.” She thought. “Oh well, God willing, there’re be no wars in the future.”

Looking at the 501st, wry with amusement “This is such a motley group, I pray for our success in our fight against the Neurois.” She frowns. “And the sycophants who ruled this world.”

Sighing as she took a puff of her smoke. “Maybe I should check my striker pack to see if it’s good condition. I don’t want anything happens to it.”

---

-snip-

-snip-

Moments later, entering the hanger, still with her cigarette in her mouth, Nuray had made a brief inspection on her F-16. Satisfied with its condition, she patted it gently as if it’s her beloved pet.

“Respect you striker pack, it will give you many victories though thick and thin.” Nuray recite one of her superior favourite sayings. “Really, Captain Aila. I think it’s very cheesy than the sermons we heard in the mosque.” She chuckles lightly at the memory.

Decided to walk out of the hanger, Nuray passes by Sarah and Yukine. Waving her hand lazily to gain their attention, she grins.

“Hey Sarah, Hey Yukine.” She offers them her cigarettes. “Want to smoke?”

Yukine turned to see Nuray approaching them and asks if both Yukine herself and the Witch next to her wanted some cigarettes and Yukine just said, "Cigarettes huh? Don't mind if I do." she took one and lit it up with her own lighter from her pocket.

"Hmm...Anatolian blend huh?" She said as she looked at the cigar and continued, "Well It's been awhile since I smoked. I only smokes when I'm stressed though. This blend is good, as good as the Indonesians." As she look at the cigarette.

[Firstaria]

After checking and kept the Striker Unit on a hangar provided, Yukine noticed a Witch wiping her eyes and noticed that people seems to ignored her presence. Yukine felt sad for a moment but then smiled back as she walks to the lone Witch.

"I guess no one noticed you yet huh? I don't know how to say this but you don't have to be sad like that. Cheer up okay, you need to be more open. Oh by the way I'm Captain Yukine Ishizawa, a new Witch but you can call me Yukine." Yukine said as she smiled at her and give her a handkerchief from her pocket.

Was she joking? They saluted before, and we already said she didn't smoke right? It looked like the return of Maria had filled that open spot that she never felt in, and now they were just ignoring her like it was not necessary anymore to have another member.

Don't worry, my dear angel, we will be always toghether, not like the others...

[Starkindler]

After being introduced to Captain Ishizawa, she bowed slightly before her, and introduced herself.
"Pleased to meet you Captain Ishizawa. I'm Lieutenant, Junior grade Anastasia Aleksandrovna Yemelyanenko. From the Orussian Air Force. 501st Joint Fighter Wing. I'm also a new transfer myself, only being here for a few days."

Then she had seen a furious Bushra entering. In her eyes, there was the clear intention to kill. She had instinctively felt her pistol, herself preparing to pull it out. They were in an Orussian base and Orussia and the Ottoman Empire was at war. She was clear prey. However, being near other Witches, and the new transfer, she decided not to be so blunt, instead make a subtle threat along the lines of she'd be capable of setting her target selector to prioritize Ottoman witches above Neuroi, the former of which would appear a hostile target on the IFF.

Then she witnessed as a world collapsed inside Bushra. As she lost the grasp of something she hold dear, though only she knew what was it. As she grasped to her thought to the last moment, only being dispelled by a Witch capable of sensing emotions as Nuray was cleared of genocide before her. She wanted to comfort her, but she couldn't find any words suitable, so she decided it would be the best to leave her alone to process it.

Meanwhile the squad celebrated the resurrection of Maria, the squad member the new arrivals were supposed to replace. The one who had been grieved over by the squadron. Even she was looking happy to see the fallen comrade unknown by her, as she hoped it would boost morale across the squadron. To not ruin the intimate moment, she also went off to the hangar, examining the set of Strikers she had got to replace the one she burnt. Precisely measuring it with her eyes to discover new features or mistakes in handling or manufacturing.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra entered the hangar and made a beeline for her strikers, grabbing an errant toolbox and ignoring everyone else that was inside the building.

Still snorting back tears, Bushra practically collapsed to her knees in front of her strikers when she finally reached them. It hadn’t seemed like such a long walk when she’d left the hangar, but now her legs seemed to be completely shot simply from the return journey.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Shaking her head to clear out any thoughts, Bushra snatched a screwdriver out of the toolbox and began to remove one of the access panels off her left striker.

Or, at least, TRY to remove one of the access panels off the striker. For some reason she couldn’t seem to slide the screwdriver into the proper position, and it just scraped against the side of the striker. She just couldn’t see the right place to put it, a watery film that seemed to obscure her vision.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Taking a deep breath and running one hand through her hair, Bushra tried again. On the third try she successfully got the screwdriver in the right place and began to twist.

After a few twists the screw fell out of its place and rolled across the floor a little ways.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Clenching her teeth and swallowing a very vocal curse that threatened to escape, Bushra leaned over and plucked it off the ground. More careful now, she held onto it tightly until she deposited it in the lid of the toolbox where it couldn’t escape.

Turning back, she discovered that the screwdriver she had been using had broken in her grip.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Disgusted, Bushra almost flung the screwdriver away but just barely managed to restrain herself to simply dropping it. Digging in the toolbox, she found another screwdriver that was about the same size and snatched it, holding it as if it would run away if she let it loose.

Armed with a new screwdriver, Bushra set into her task again. Quickly removing the screws that held the panel in place, one by one.

He lied to me he lied to me lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

All the screws out, Bushra placed them with the first in the lid of the toolbox and then stared at the panel for a moment. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do next. Staring at the panel, Bushra unconsciously rocked back and forth slightly, slapping the handle of the screwdriver against her palm as tears rolled down her face.

The next step involved the screwdriver, but she couldn’t remember…

He lied to me he lied to me lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Jerking, Bushra realized what she had to do next and shook her head, ashamed of herself for not realizing it sooner. She had to remove the panel of course. That was the whole point of doing this. To do that, she just had to pry it off the striker with the screwdriver.

Bushra tried to stick the screwdriver into the small opening on the side of the panel, but only scraped it against her strikers again.

He lied to me. Why did he lie to me? Why would he lie to me? The nobility aren’t the power-obsessed maniacs he said they were, at least not all of them. Other countries aren’t to blame for what Ottomania has done to its own people. Allahu Ackbar, how many lies did he tell me? Was any of it truth? Who is he?

“DAMNIT!” Bushra screamed, completely unaware the word wasn’t contained in her own head. As she spoke Bushra stood, familiar appearing, and cocked her arm back. With that she tossed the screwdriver that refused to work right as hard as she could towards the roof of the hangar. The tool spun end-for-end through the distance in a moment and then the whole hangar echoed with a sharp CRACK!

A small round hole appeared in the roof of the hangar where the screwdriver had broken through the metal.

As if nothing had happened, Bushra turned back to her strikers and dropped to her knees again. Digging through the toolbox for another screwdriver, she had a much more difficult time finding another replacement as her tears prevented her from being able to see anything at all.

Damn him! He lied to me? Why did he lie to me? Damn him!

[Wolfenium]

Bushra entered the hangar and made a beeline for her strikers, grabbing an errant toolbox and ignoring everyone else that was inside the building.

Still snorting back tears, Bushra practically collapsed to her knees in front of her strikers when she finally reached them. It hadn’t seemed like such a long walk when she’d left the hangar, but now her legs seemed to be completely shot simply from the return journey.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Shaking her head to clear out any thoughts, Bushra snatched a screwdriver out of the toolbox and began to remove one of the access panels off her left striker.

Or, at least, TRY to remove one of the access panels off the striker. For some reason she couldn’t seem to slide the screwdriver into the proper position, and it just scraped against the side of the striker. She just couldn’t see the right place to put it, a watery film that seemed to obscure her vision.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Taking a deep breath and running one hand through her hair, Bushra tried again. On the third try she successfully got the screwdriver in the right place and began to twist.

After a few twists the screw fell out of its place and rolled across the floor a little ways.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Clenching her teeth and swallowing a very vocal curse that threatened to escape, Bushra leaned over and plucked it off the ground. More careful now, she held onto it tightly until she deposited it in the lid of the toolbox where it couldn’t escape.

Turning back, she discovered that the screwdriver she had been using had broken in her grip.

He lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Disgusted, Bushra almost flung the screwdriver away but just barely managed to restrain herself to simply dropping it. Digging in the toolbox, she found another screwdriver that was about the same size and snatched it, holding it as if it would run away if she let it loose.

Armed with a new screwdriver, Bushra set into her task again. Quickly removing the screws that held the panel in place, one by one.

He lied to me he lied to me lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

All the screws out, Bushra placed them with the first in the lid of the toolbox and then stared at the panel for a moment. Suddenly, she couldn’t remember what she was supposed to do next. Staring at the panel, Bushra unconsciously rocked back and forth slightly, slapping the handle of the screwdriver against her palm as tears rolled down her face.

The next step involved the screwdriver, but she couldn’t remember…

He lied to me he lied to me lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me he lied to me…

Jerking, Bushra realized what she had to do next and shook her head, ashamed of herself for not realizing it sooner. She had to remove the panel of course. That was the whole point of doing this. To do that, she just had to pry it off the striker with the screwdriver.

Bushra tried to stick the screwdriver into the small opening on the side of the panel, but only scraped it against her strikers again.

He lied to me. Why did he lie to me? Why would he lie to me? The nobility aren’t the power-obsessed maniacs he said they were, at least not all of them. Other countries aren’t to blame for what Ottomania has done to its own people. Allahu Ackbar, how many lies did he tell me? Was any of it truth? Who is he?

“DAMNIT!” Bushra screamed, completely unaware the word wasn’t contained in her own head. As she spoke Bushra stood, familiar appearing, and cocked her arm back. With that she tossed the screwdriver that refused to work right as hard as she could towards the roof of the hangar. The tool spun end-for-end through the distance in a moment and then the whole hangar echoed with a sharp CRACK!

A small round hole appeared in the roof of the hangar where the screwdriver had broken through the metal.

As if nothing had happened, Bushra turned back to her strikers and dropped to her knees again. Digging through the toolbox for another screwdriver, she had a much more difficult time finding another replacement as her tears prevented her from being able to see anything at all.

Damn him! He lied to me? Why did he lie to me? Damn him!

"My dear god," uttered a surprised, ginger voice, "what happened here?..."

Unloading supplies to the Yeager and their task force, the gruff Orussian sailors hauling the crates did not seem very distracted by her outburst. Though one or two give an occasional spiteful glare at the Ottoman witch, most did not pay much attention to her. But as the throngs of labourers passed her like a ghost, one figure was quick to take notice.

Rushing towards Bushra was a young girl, dressed in an Orussian dress uniform as she delicately held the Syrian's hand. Sporting a head of vibrant, bubblegum pink hair in twintails, the commander looked aghast at Bushra's outburst. Checking her hand for any injures, she exclaimed in a concerned tone, "my dear girl, what happened? Are you hurt? Why are you crying? Don't worry, you can tell Iuno."

[Minroz]

“Haha! That’s because I’m from Anatolia, born and bred.” Nuray quips, grinning at Yukine and Sarah. “So I like this brand better. But then again, the Indonesian ones are pretty good as well, I’d admit. I’ve tried some when I was in Indonesia, helping the locals fighting Neurois. Well, as part of helping fellow Muslims over there, policy of my government.”

She chuckles, “Indonesia is a very strange place, to be honest. Both their culture and the environment, I can’t help myself thinking how they live on with such beliefs. It’s quite bizarre, I’d tell you.”

“In fact, I have an Indonesian friend there, his name is Yan Yansen, he’s great guy and a brilliant engineer but he’s bit of a foul-mouth, a rude one at best.” Nuray spoke, took a puff of a cigarette. “He helped me a lot, fixing my strikers, my talk-buddy and all that. But he’s also a great friend whenever you need him.”

“Oh, don’t get me wrong? He’s not my boyfriend or anything.” She giggles like a schoolgirl. “Actually he’s a married man and he’s too old for me. Also he has a cute seven-year old son named Ard. You would believe how cheerful and friendly the kid is, he’s also thoughtful too. I treated him as my little brother who likes to call me big sister.”

“I took care of Ardi, whenever his father goes to work because…” Nuray looked downcast, glancing away. “His mother died of illness. Yan has to raise his son by himself with the help of his family. Sad, isn’t it.”

“Still, Yan never gives up on his son, no matter what. He promised his wife he will take care of Ardi, even at the cost of his life.” She look up, smiling. “He’s a wonderful father. Like my dad back home. Come to think about it, I’m wondering how’s my family is back home?”

“Aren’t you worried about your family and friends back home?” Nuray asks Yukine and Sarah.