Strike Witches 2012 Episode 9: Warkeeping

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra coughed roughly when Lysta called Maria an idiot, being completely unprepared for such an answer.

As Lysta continued she only felt worse. Maria didn’t fit in the hole Bushra’s brain had cut-out out for nobility to be placed into. Nobility didn’t take on others pain, they spread it out to others. Nobility didn’t laugh like lunatics. Nobility didn’t drink. Nobility didn’t swear. Nobility certainly wasn’t sweet.

Yet that was exactly what Lysta claimed Maria was like.

Bushra felt a stirring of…something…inside her, but was at a complete loss to classify what it was. It was almost like respect or sympathy, but that couldn’t be what it was. She’d just been in the air too long and Lysta’s emotional reminisces were getting to her. That had to be it.

“Oh.” Bushra said stupidly for not the first time concerning Maria. With that simple statement Bushra began to slowly drift away from Lysta, suddenly feeling quite uncomfortable with the subject of the conversation.

Everything is wrong. It’s all wrong. Nobility aren’t good people. They can’t be. Teacher said so! They're the ones to blame!

“She sounds very,” Bushra paused for a fraction of a moment trying to come up with a suitable word, “dedicated.” She finished.

Lysta snorted, "The only thing she was dedicated to was Kamen Rider. She was friggen obsessive about that show. Well that and Alcohol. I once saw that girl chug an entire keg of beer and she wasn't even phased. She asked for another." Lysta laughed, "And we're not even talking about her monstrous strength. That girl... She carried a gun that weighed over 350kg unloaded. Ah! Here. You haven't seen her right?" She fished in her backpack with her telekinetic powers and retrieved a picture, holding it to Bushra, for her to take. Keeping a small amount of telekinetic force to make sure it didn't fly off. "This is the most recent picture I have of her. I think it was when she was serving with a South Afrikan unit."

There were several girls in the picture, most of them were clearly South Afrikan with the exception of a small mousy looking blonde girl in between two of them, grinning like an idiot. She wouldn't have been very noticeable with the exception her body was incredibly distinctive. It was covered in scars, welts and bandages. But the smile was still there, like a ray of sunshine.

Bushra stared at the photo and tried to keep her mouth from dropping open. The girl in it, or at least the one she could only assume was Maria, was riddled in so many scars and bandages that one would have expected her to be in an ICU somewhere, not getting her photo taken in the South African wilderness.

One would also have expected her to be dour. But instead, she looked like she had just won the lottery, or been told she was getting a week of paid leave.

“She—She’s the one in the center here?” Bushra said, gesturing towards the scarred witch in the photo. But she didn’t really need the confirmation, something told her it was. Unlike the others in the photo the scarred girl seemed to be completely enjoying herself, smiling like a lunatic and completely disregarding the pain the wounds all over her body had to be causing her.

“How…” Bushra trailed off and avoided looking at Lysta by instead focusing on the photo. “How did she get so many…” Bushra tried once again only to clam up, unsure whether it would be appropriate to finish the question.

How did she get all those scars and what in the world could she be so happy about?

[Imota]

Beatrice quickly sidled over to Bushra, looked over her shoulder at the photo, and chuckled.

"That's Maria for you," she said. "We Marines call ourselves tough, but even I'd be screaming for a medic if I was like that."

"Who knows how she ended up like that? She probably saved one of her fellow Witches from an attack, and...you see the result. It sounds like something she'd do. And before you ask, yeah, she was a noble, but she never knew it. She was kidnapped when she was a baby and raised by a priest. He treated her really badly, too, beating her, swearing at her, stealing her pay once she became a Witch. Anyone else would have wanted to end the world, but she...she..."

What else could she say? Maria...was Maria, the Venezian witch who, despite a past and a body covered in scars, never stopped believing in justice, never let her passion waver. Be it drinking, fighting, or loving, she was always true to herself, charging full throttle, never letting anyone dampen her ardor.

"...she saw us as the family she never had. Our very first sortie, she nearly killed herself to save Yuri and Yuki, and disobeyed orders to do it. She..." Beatrice gitted her teeth and floated away from Bushra.

"Sorry," she said finally. "But damned if she wasn't the nicest, craziest Witch I've ever known."

[Minroz]

-snip-

-snip-

“Lysta, Beatrice…” Nuray said cheerfully on the radio. “Maria does remind me of my old mentor and my old friend when I was first started in the military. She’s a Lebanese Christian and a very jollyful individual, who cares more on drinking alcohol and protecting innocents from harm. I’m sure Maria will get along well with her.”

She pauses for moment with grave silence as her tone turns deep solemn. “But she’s dead five years ago…”

Looking away at the plane she’s escorting.

[Wolfenium]

"I... suppose..." the girl whispered with a blush, "it's been more than a year... In any case, I hope this ends soon. The longer this last, the more danger the Neuroi poses to the rest of us.

Anyway," she said, "let me know when we reach Odessa. I... need some time to myself..."

"Oh....sure, Svetlana. I'll remind to do it when we reach it." Matilde promptly replied, "but...only one question, Svetlana: do you have problems or worries that don't make you sleep well at night? If yes, just tell me. I'll help you. And...well, I think that you should pass a little more time with the other witches too, and warm up to them a little, and...maybe tell them stories of Orussia? Of the snow, and the wolves, and of the northern lights in the sky? I'm sure they would be interested." Matilde suggested to Sveta.

Sveta paused as she heard Matilde's query. Certainly, the dark rims on her eyes were telling signs, but this was an answer Svetlana rather not address, as her lips tightened at the words.

"Besides all that happened, not really," she stated in an immensely chilling monotone, "pray I don't find the people responsible for causing such agony. I'll kill anyone who exploits the feelings of others."

A dull, petrifying glare flashed over the girl's eyes as she made those words, a pair of glowing red orbs devoid of joy. As the girl reverted to normal, she added in a more cordial tone, "in any case, I don't really have many stories to tell to the new arrivals, nor am I in the best of moods. Perhaps another time then."

[Agritum]

"Oh....sure, Svetlana. I'll remind to do it when we reach it." Matilde promptly replied, "but...only one question, Svetlana: do you have problems or worries that don't make you sleep well at night? If yes, just tell me. I'll help you. And...well, I think that you should pass a little more time with the other witches too, and warm up to them a little, and...maybe tell them stories of Orussia? Of the snow, and the wolves, and of the northern lights in the sky? I'm sure they would be interested." Matilde suggested to Sveta.

Sveta paused as she heard Matilde's query. Certainly, the dark rims on her eyes were telling signs, but this was an answer Svetlana rather not address, as her lips tightened at the words.

"Besides all that happened, not really," she stated in an immensely chilling monotone, "pray I don't find the people responsible for causing such agony. I'll kill anyone who exploits the feelings of others."

A dull, petrifying glare flashed over the girl's eyes as she made those words, a pair of glowing red orbs devoid of joy. As the girl reverted to normal, she added in a more cordial tone, "in any case, I don't really have many stories to tell to the new arrivals, nor am I in the best of moods. Perhaps another time then."

Matilde stood back in sheer shock, her eyes wide opened at Svetlana. "W-what? What do you mean, Svetlana?" she tried to rationalize, vainly. If there was something that deeply scared Matilde, it was Svetlana having another Manchurian moment. And it was also something that made her warning senses tingle in danger.

"Svetlana, I am sorry, but I guess that...I guess that you'll have to take some psychological exams when we are in Odessa. You may know why, and please, don't think of this as some sort of condemnation or worser....it's just that your sudden changes of mood could be possibly....harmful. Please, understand me, Svetlana"

[Rupudska]

-snip-

-snip-

“Lysta, Beatrice…” Nuray said cheerfully on the radio. “Maria does remind me of my old mentor and my old friend when I was first started in the military. She’s a Lebanese Christian and a very jollyful individual, who cares more on drinking alcohol and protecting innocents from harm. I’m sure Maria will get along well with her.”

She pauses for moment with grave silence as her tone turns deep solemn. “But she’s dead five years ago…”

Looking away at the plane she’s escorting.

Ruya snorted. "It seems that I wasn't the only one who felt something familiar in Maria. She reminds me of a childhood friend, one I still know because she's in my squadron back at my base in New Mexico. She was a Jewish Witch from Alaska with a strong motherly instinct and an even stronger liver."

She sighed. "haven't seen her in months. She got stationed in another 500-squadron, the 502. Last I heard, she was stationed all the way out in Somalia."

Sohvi made a disgusted look. "I'm not envious of her in the least. Isn't the rate of... you know... really high out there?"

Ruya simply laughed, although you could tell by her eyes (when they were open) she really was nervous. "By the time she leaves, it'll be a paradise." Sohvi simply snorted.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Beatrice quickly sidled over to Bushra, looked over her shoulder at the photo, and chuckled.

"That's Maria for you," she said. "We Marines call ourselves tough, but even I'd be screaming for a medic if I was like that."

"Who knows how she ended up like that? She probably saved one of her fellow Witches from an attack, and...you see the result. It sounds like something she'd do. And before you ask, yeah, she was a noble, but she never knew it. She was kidnapped when she was a baby and raised by a priest. He treated her really badly, too, beating her, swearing at her, stealing her pay once she became a Witch. Anyone else would have wanted to end the world, but she...she..."

What else could she say? Maria...was Maria, the Venezian witch who, despite a past and a body covered in scars, never stopped believing in justice, never let her passion waver. Be it drinking, fighting, or loving, she was always true to herself, charging full throttle, never letting anyone dampen her ardor.

"...she saw us as the family she never had. Our very first sortie, she nearly killed herself to save Yuri and Yuki, and disobeyed orders to do it. She..." Beatrice gitted her teeth and floated away from Bushra.

"Sorry," she said finally. "But damned if she wasn't the nicest, craziest Witch I've ever known."

Bushra bit her lip as she handed the photograph back to Lysta, jerking her hand away from it as soon as the other witch had it as if it physically hurt her to touch it. A moment later she rubbed the arm of her uniform across her face to get something out of her eye the wind had blown into it.

That isn’t what they are like. Teacher told me so. That’s not what they are like.

She was just that way because she wasn’t raised by her parents!

You’re one to talk.

The thought came out of nowhere, and Bushra tried to figure out why she would think such a thing. But the reason seemed to fade just as quickly as the thought had. Buried under more than five years worth of lessons and teachings from someone she thought could be trusted completely.

Why would she be so happy? Bushra thought once again. What kind of lunatic would take so much abuse and still be able to smile? How crazy would you have to be to go through such things and not see those in authority as the power-hungry bastards they are? Her PRIEST betrayed her!

This last thought Bushra accompanied with another rub of her eyes because of the “wind”. Like mind-control something so heinous seemed almost incomprehensibly evil to Bushra. Such a thing was so much worse than mere mind-control. Even worse than nobility who abused their power. For a man of God to act so was…Bushra lacked a strong enough word for how evil such a thing was.

-snip-

-snip-

“Lysta, Beatrice…” Nuray said cheerfully on the radio. “Maria does remind me of my old mentor and my old friend when I was first started in the military. She’s a Lebanese Christian and a very jollyful individual, who cares more on drinking alcohol and protecting innocents from harm. I’m sure Maria will get along well with her.”

She pauses for moment with grave silence as her tone turns deep solemn. “But she’s dead five years ago…”

Looking away at the plane she’s escorting.

Bushra’s melancholy was overshadowed by a spike of anger that arose when Nuray spoke.

“You’re one to talk, Turk. Plenty of people have been killed more recently than that in Ottomania by your government, yet I hear no tears from you for them.” Bushra snapped, glad to finally have a different thing to focus her attention on than Maria. Talking about the dead Venezian witch just worsened the confusion and uncertainty that seemed to be growing within her daily. Calling out the Turk on her country’s actions was one of the few certainties she had left. She KNEW how corrupt Ottomania was and she KNEW Nuray was a murderer. She had been part of a massacre!

You only think that because teacher said so...What if she isn't...

Teacher would never lie to me.

He lied about people like Maria didn't he? He lied about nobility didn't he?

TEACHER WOULD NEVER LIE TO ME!

“Of course, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised…” Bushra continued, catching herself, just barely, before she directly called the Turkish witch a murderer.

[Finorskia]

Beatrice quickly sidled over to Bushra, looked over her shoulder at the photo, and chuckled.

"That's Maria for you," she said. "We Marines call ourselves tough, but even I'd be screaming for a medic if I was like that."

"Who knows how she ended up like that? She probably saved one of her fellow Witches from an attack, and...you see the result. It sounds like something she'd do. And before you ask, yeah, she was a noble, but she never knew it. She was kidnapped when she was a baby and raised by a priest. He treated her really badly, too, beating her, swearing at her, stealing her pay once she became a Witch. Anyone else would have wanted to end the world, but she...she..."

What else could she say? Maria...was Maria, the Venezian witch who, despite a past and a body covered in scars, never stopped believing in justice, never let her passion waver. Be it drinking, fighting, or loving, she was always true to herself, charging full throttle, never letting anyone dampen her ardor.

"...she saw us as the family she never had. Our very first sortie, she nearly killed herself to save Yuri and Yuki, and disobeyed orders to do it. She..." Beatrice gitted her teeth and floated away from Bushra.

"Sorry," she said finally. "But damned if she wasn't the nicest, craziest Witch I've ever known."

Bushra bit her lip as she handed the photograph back to Lysta, jerking her hand away from it as soon as the other witch had it as if it physically hurt her to touch it. A moment later she rubbed the arm of her uniform across her face to get something out of her eye the wind had blown into it.

That isn’t what they are like. Teacher told me so. That’s not what they are like.

She was just that way because she wasn’t raised by her parents!

You’re one to talk.

The thought came out of nowhere, and Bushra tried to figure out why she would think such a thing. But the reason seemed to fade just as quickly as the thought had. Buried under more than five years worth of lessons and teachings from someone she thought could be trusted completely.

Why would she be so happy? Bushra thought once again. What kind of lunatic would take so much abuse and still be able to smile? How crazy would you have to be to go through such things and not see those in authority as the power-hungry bastards they are? Her PRIEST betrayed her!

This last thought Bushra accompanied with another rub of her eyes because of the “wind”. Like mind-control something so heinous seemed almost incomprehensibly evil to Bushra. Such a thing was so much worse than mere mind-control. Even worse than nobility who abused their power. For a man of God to act so was…Bushra lacked a strong enough word for how evil such a thing was.

snip

Bushra’s melancholy was overshadowed by a spike of anger that arose when Nuray spoke.

“You’re one to talk, Turk. Plenty of people have been killed more recently than that in Ottomania by your government, yet I hear no tears from you for them.” Bushra snapped, glad to finally have a different thing to focus her attention on than Maria. Talking about the dead Venezian witch just worsened the confusion and uncertainty that seemed to be growing within her daily. Calling out the Turk on her country’s actions was one of the few certainties she had left. She KNEW how corrupt Ottomania was and she KNEW Nuray was a murderer. She had been part of a massacre!

You only think that because teacher said so...What if she isn't...

Teacher would never lie to me.

He lied about people like Maria didn't he? He lied about nobility didn't he?

TEACHER WOULD NEVER LIE TO ME!

“Of course, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised…” Bushra continued, catching herself, just barely, before she directly called the Turkish witch a murderer.

Yuki had been putting long at the rear of the formation in silence. In fact shed been fairly silent ever since Maria had died. Actually when one thought about it, Yuki had practically been mute since Maria, and had only left her room for Maria's funeral, eating, using the bathroom, and the only sortie they had, had since the incident. Yet no one seemed to notice. Not even her brother. Yuki's head hang low. What was there to talk about anyways. It seemed these days that whenever someone opened their mouth, nothing nice was never said to her. Yuki's flight trainer had told her "When you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".Yuki however had plenty of nice things to say, but since no one else did, she felt it was her duty to stay quite for the all of them. Yuki began to quietly sob to herself.

Then the other witches began to talk about Maria. Yuki just couldn't take it. She began to full on cry. It was to herself of course, but she was still crying. She found herself wiping tears away from her one good eye almost every three seconds, and her flight pattern became wobbly. Then something happened that caused Yuki to snap.

"SHUT UP!" Yuki shouted at Bushra, though it seemed to be directed at everyone. "Were a team. We're friend's, and were supposed to act like both...All I've been seeing lately though, is just anger and hate, and I...I...I can't stand it anymore." Natalie began to full on, and very audibly sob. "...And I don't think Maria wold have stood for it either." She said under her breath as she wiped tears away from her eye.

[Wolfenium]

Sveta paused as she heard Matilde's query. Certainly, the dark rims on her eyes were telling signs, but this was an answer Svetlana rather not address, as her lips tightened at the words.

"Besides all that happened, not really," she stated in an immensely chilling monotone, "pray I don't find the people responsible for causing such agony. I'll kill anyone who exploits the feelings of others."

A dull, petrifying glare flashed over the girl's eyes as she made those words, a pair of glowing red orbs devoid of joy. As the girl reverted to normal, she added in a more cordial tone, "in any case, I don't really have many stories to tell to the new arrivals, nor am I in the best of moods. Perhaps another time then."

Matilde stood back in sheer shock, her eyes wide opened at Svetlana. "W-what? What do you mean, Svetlana?" she tried to rationalize, vainly. If there was something that deeply scared Matilde, it was Svetlana having another Manchurian moment. And it was also something that made her warning senses tingle in danger.

"Svetlana, I am sorry, but I guess that...I guess that you'll have to take some psychological exams when we are in Odessa. You may know why, and please, don't think of this as some sort of condemnation or worser....it's just that your sudden changes of mood could be possibly....harmful. Please, understand me, Svetlana"

Svetlana's fists tightened painfully at Matilde's words, her face hidden behind her messy fringe. Not a girl easily angered, Svetlana had rarely lost her cool in her life. But as blood dripped from her torn palms to the floor, her grated teeth told a very different side.

"Do you have ANY IDEA what those people would do to me," she spat in an uncharacteristic, harsh outburst, her eyes flashing with malice, "who do you think made me this way!? Every time you people spoke of Tepes; every time I look her in the eyes, I see myself in there! I'm scared! I don't want to go home! Do you know what the Okhranka does to elite witch trainees!? You don't even have an idea! I hate them... I hate him..."

Distraught, Svetlana gripped the rails in agony as she struggled to calm herself. Every bit of discipline that was built into her had literally shattered that instant. The thought of taking 'psychological exams' at home haunted her more than anything. She feared she may end up like Adela, or worse...

[Agritum]

Matilde stood back in sheer shock, her eyes wide opened at Svetlana. "W-what? What do you mean, Svetlana?" she tried to rationalize, vainly. If there was something that deeply scared Matilde, it was Svetlana having another Manchurian moment. And it was also something that made her warning senses tingle in danger.

"Svetlana, I am sorry, but I guess that...I guess that you'll have to take some psychological exams when we are in Odessa. You may know why, and please, don't think of this as some sort of condemnation or worser....it's just that your sudden changes of mood could be possibly....harmful. Please, understand me, Svetlana"

Svetlana's fists tightened painfully at Matilde's words, her face hidden behind her messy fringe. Not a girl easily angered, Svetlana had rarely lost her cool in her life. But as blood dripped from her torn palms to the floor, her grated teeth told a very different side.

"Do you have ANY IDEA what those people would do to me," she spat in an uncharacteristic, harsh outburst, her eyes flashing with malice, "who do you think made me this way!? Every time you people spoke of Tepes; every time I look her in the eyes, I see myself in there! I'm scared! I don't want to go home! Do you know what the Okhranka does to elite witch trainees!? You don't even have an idea! I hate them... I hate him..."

Distraught, Svetlana gripped the rails in agony as she struggled to calm herself. Every bit of discipline that was built into her had literally shattered that instant. The thought of taking 'psychological exams' at home haunted her more than anything. She feared she may end up like Adela, or worse...

"Don't worry....I'll let Fei do those exams, or atleast, a non-Orussian therapist." was Matilde quick reply, aimed at calming the Orussian witch. "We surely have atleast one in our unit, given our international gimmick. And....and...."
Matilde sighed, tenderly taking Svetlana's hand to comfort her. "Who his...'him'?"

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra bit her lip as she handed the photograph back to Lysta, jerking her hand away from it as soon as the other witch had it as if it physically hurt her to touch it. A moment later she rubbed the arm of her uniform across her face to get something out of her eye the wind had blown into it.

That isn’t what they are like. Teacher told me so. That’s not what they are like.

She was just that way because she wasn’t raised by her parents!

You’re one to talk.

The thought came out of nowhere, and Bushra tried to figure out why she would think such a thing. But the reason seemed to fade just as quickly as the thought had. Buried under more than five years worth of lessons and teachings from someone she thought could be trusted completely.

Why would she be so happy? Bushra thought once again. What kind of lunatic would take so much abuse and still be able to smile? How crazy would you have to be to go through such things and not see those in authority as the power-hungry bastards they are? Her PRIEST betrayed her!

This last thought Bushra accompanied with another rub of her eyes because of the “wind”. Like mind-control something so heinous seemed almost incomprehensibly evil to Bushra. Such a thing was so much worse than mere mind-control. Even worse than nobility who abused their power. For a man of God to act so was…Bushra lacked a strong enough word for how evil such a thing was.



Bushra’s melancholy was overshadowed by a spike of anger that arose when Nuray spoke.

“You’re one to talk, Turk. Plenty of people have been killed more recently than that in Ottomania by your government, yet I hear no tears from you for them.” Bushra snapped, glad to finally have a different thing to focus her attention on than Maria. Talking about the dead Venezian witch just worsened the confusion and uncertainty that seemed to be growing within her daily. Calling out the Turk on her country’s actions was one of the few certainties she had left. She KNEW how corrupt Ottomania was and she KNEW Nuray was a murderer. She had been part of a massacre!

You only think that because teacher said so...What if she isn't...

Teacher would never lie to me.

He lied about people like Maria didn't he? He lied about nobility didn't he?

TEACHER WOULD NEVER LIE TO ME!

“Of course, I guess I shouldn’t be too surprised…” Bushra continued, catching herself, just barely, before she directly called the Turkish witch a murderer.

Yuki had been putting long at the rear of the formation in silence. In fact shed been fairly silent ever since Maria had died. Actually when one thought about it, Yuki had practically been mute since Maria, and had only left her room for Maria's funeral, eating, using the bathroom, and the only sortie they had, had since the incident. Yet no one seemed to notice. Not even her brother. Yuki's head hang low. What was there to talk about anyways. It seemed these days that whenever someone opened their mouth, nothing nice was never said to her. Yuki's flight trainer had told her "When you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".Yuki however had plenty of nice things to say, but since no one else did, she felt it was her duty to stay quite for the all of them. Yuki began to quietly sob to herself.

Then the other witches began to talk about Maria. Yuki just couldn't take it. She began to full on cry. It was to herself of course, but she was still crying. She found herself wiping tears away from her one good eye almost every three seconds, and her flight pattern became wobbly. Then something happened that caused Yuki to snap.

"SHUT UP!" Yuki shouted at Bushra, though it seemed to be directed at everyone. "Were a team. We're friend's, and were supposed to act like both...All I've been seeing lately though, is just anger and hate, and I...I...I can't stand it anymore." Natalie began to full on, and very audibly sob. "...And I don't think Maria wold have stood for it either." She said under her breath as she wiped tears away from her eye.

Bushra opened her mouth to spit a harsh retort at Yuki but stopped after just barely beginning. Taking a deep breath instead, she closed her mouth with a sharp click.

Say stuff like that and they’ll just lock you up again.

But it’s the truth!

……Is it?

It. Is. The. Truth. Still, wouldn’t exactly be pleasant to be back in a cell.

“What I said was uncalled for.” Bushra said simply, in a completely neutral tone that neither had the stinging bite of sarcasm or the feeling of a genuine apology, as if merely the statement of a fact. She avoided looking at Nuray as she spoke, instead addressing the comment more to Yuki and the rest of the 501st.

To her, at least, the distinction between admitting that what she said was 'uncalled for' and actually apologizing for it was very big.

[Minroz]

-snip-

“At least your friend is still alive, Major.” Nuray said softly. “But I’m looking forward to meet her if we had a chance.”

-snip-

-snip-

“Out of all places, she has to be prissy. Bushra need to learn to enjoy life, after all the crap she’s been through. Just like me.” Nuray thought, sighing in dismay at Bushra’s response. Later, she was shocked by Yuki’s outburst. “You do have a point, Yuki. Still I doubt our Syrian comrade will understand.”

After hearing Bushra’s statement, Nuray sighs.

“Really, Private Bin Masoud? Are you sure you don’t have a stick up in your ass? If you keep up that attitude, you’ll soon have wrinkles when you grew older.” She said jokingly; wanting to lighten everyone’s mood.

[Al-Harbiyyah]

"Hey Captain Ishizawa, have you know about what happened to the 501st recently?" The head pilot of the transport plane talked with the Fuso Witch who stayed in the cockpit with the flight crew.

Yukine thought a bit before saying, "I've read it in the briefing. It seems the whole team have faced some deep shit back then...I wonder if they are having a breakdown? I just hope they won't having any breakdown, the last thing I wanna see is some Witches gone mad under stress."

The pilot sighed, "Damn...and to think that there is another war among us while those Neuroi probably just waiting the opportunity to attack us when we are weak. We should be fighting the Neuroi not observing some squabble." He then checks his chronometer back before looking at the flight instruments on the cockpit.

Yukine blinked at the pilot's statement and sighed, "You're right but humans are still humans, there will be at some point an idiot would declare war on the other guy when there is more greater threat out there than some nations with nukes."

There was a quiet silence except the sound of flight electronics and the sound of engines rumbling when the pilot asks her one question, "Captain...if you are facing an enemy Witch, would you kill her?"

Yukine is surprised to hear it from the pilot, even she didn't thought the possibility to kill a fellow Witch but after all, her flight commander back at the 7th Air Wing once told her that if they must kill another Witch IF they are involved in the conflict with another nation, then they will have to as they themselves are soldiers.

"If I was ordered to eliminate the hostile Witches...then I don't have any choice do I?" She replied with a sad smile on her face.

The co-pilot then suddenly announced, "Sir, we're approaching Odessa."

"Good Mori, began contacting the Odessa Air Traffic Control. Captain Ishizawa, if you mind can you tell the boys back there to get ready for landing soon?" The pilot ask Yukine.

Yukine didn't say anything but nodded as the transport plane and its escorts are approaching Odessa.

[Wolfenium]

Svetlana's fists tightened painfully at Matilde's words, her face hidden behind her messy fringe. Not a girl easily angered, Svetlana had rarely lost her cool in her life. But as blood dripped from her torn palms to the floor, her grated teeth told a very different side.

"Do you have ANY IDEA what those people would do to me," she spat in an uncharacteristic, harsh outburst, her eyes flashing with malice, "who do you think made me this way!? Every time you people spoke of Tepes; every time I look her in the eyes, I see myself in there! I'm scared! I don't want to go home! Do you know what the Okhranka does to elite witch trainees!? You don't even have an idea! I hate them... I hate him..."

Distraught, Svetlana gripped the rails in agony as she struggled to calm herself. Every bit of discipline that was built into her had literally shattered that instant. The thought of taking 'psychological exams' at home haunted her more than anything. She feared she may end up like Adela, or worse...

"Don't worry....I'll let Fei do those exams, or atleast, a non-Orussian therapist." was Matilde quick reply, aimed at calming the Orussian witch. "We surely have atleast one in our unit, given our international gimmick. And....and...."
Matilde sighed, tenderly taking Svetlana's hand to comfort her. "Who his...'him'?"

Svetlana hastily withdrew her hand as she tried to hide her nervousness. Her eyes darting furtively, she simply stated in a haunting voice, "I said too much. Just ignore what I said just now. Whatever it is, watch your words when you're in Odessa. The walls have ears, and you best be on your guard for informants. Until we leave, it's better to assume that every person you meet is an informant for the Okhranka, even me."

[Agritum]

"Don't worry....I'll let Fei do those exams, or atleast, a non-Orussian therapist." was Matilde quick reply, aimed at calming the Orussian witch. "We surely have atleast one in our unit, given our international gimmick. And....and...."
Matilde sighed, tenderly taking Svetlana's hand to comfort her. "Who his...'him'?"

Svetlana hastily withdrew her hand as she tried to hide her nervousness. Her eyes darting furtively, she simply stated in a haunting voice, "I said too much. Just ignore what I said just now. Whatever it is, watch your words when you're in Odessa. The walls have ears, and you best be on your guard for informants. Until we leave, it's better to assume that every person you meet is an informant for the Okhranka, even me."

"I am wary of it.....I guess that we'll wait for when we are out of Orussian territory, then. There isn't nothing else I can do there, given how risky you ink it would be to speak abput it there. Still, Svetlana, I'll try to keep a watch on you, to resolve any problems you might have. I guess we can go fine with that." Matilde replied, glancing in front of herself.

[Rupudska]

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

[Agritum]

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

"Silvestri there, Ma'am. I'm there." Matilde replied, seconds after touching down on the the black runway, the heat of her Striker unit's jets slowly fading, as she unlocked the restraints of the Eurofighter and adjusted the cap on her head, glancing at the transport aircraft, landing in the nearby runway.
"Permission to get my new uniform and equipment, Ma'am?"

[Firstaria]

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

Sarah answered to Ruya with a simple " Yes, Ma'am, arrived" once she touched down, looking around. Orussia was clearly trying to show support to the cause, but she knew there was no real support in that except for pride. No one wanted to have Neuroi or 501th problems during this crisis.

[Finorskia]

Once Natalie landed she hurriedly took off her backpack, placed her gun in its rack, jumped out of her strikers and ran to the galley. She returned a little while later with a couple of egg, bacon, sausage, and cheese sandwiches, which she finished by the time she reached her striker packs. As she walked passed Ruya she herd the major call to see if everyone was there.
"Yo." Was all Natalie said to acknowledge her existence. She returned to her strikers, picked up her M2 Browning, checked to make sure there was no more ammo in the gun, and walked on over to Lysta.
"Sup." Natalie said with a slight strain from holding the big gun.

---

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

Yuri stepped out from one of the transport planes. "I'm here." He called. He looked around for a moment and something caught his eye. Yuki wasn't there.
"Um. I don't see Yuk...." He heard the sound of a jet striker and looked up. There sure enough was Yuki coming in for a landing, a little late to.
"Somethings not right." Yuri said quietly. "Shes not pulling back to land...OH GOD SHES GONNA CRASH!" Yuri shouted running towards the tarmac.

---

Yuki had stopped outright crying, but she was still sobbing, and her flight pattern had become quite erratic. By the time they arrived at Odessa Yuki felt drained and tired. She barely noticed they were landing, and ended up circling the airport a good number. Yuki was beginning to feel more tired by the second, and as she approached the runway for landing she felt her eyes beginning to shut, and she had to force herself to stay awake. She was so tired she barely put herself in landing position, and at five feet above the runway her eyes closed and she passed out. She tilted forwards and hit the ground. Her strikers were ripped from her body and she rolled across the tarmac. At last she came to a rest about twenty feet from her strikers.

[Occupied Deutschland]

Bushra turned her head slightly when Sohvi and Ruya entered the hangar, but otherwise offered little response. As much as she didn’t want to admit it to herself, it had been a long and tiring flight. On top of that was the confusion that only seemed to be growing daily as she worked with the 501st. All she wanted to do was secure all her stuff and take a nap.

Once Natalie landed she hurriedly took off her backpack, placed her gun in its rack, jumped out of her strikers and ran to the galley. She returned a little while later with a couple of egg, bacon, sausage, and cheese sandwiches, which she finished by the time she reached her striker packs. As she walked passed Ruya she herd the major call to see if everyone was there.
"Yo." Was all Natalie said to acknowledge her existence. She returned to her strikers, picked up her M2 Browning, checked to make sure there was no more ammo in the gun, and walked on over to Lysta.
"Sup." Natalie said with a slight strain from holding the big gun.

---

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

Yuri stepped out from one of the transport planes. "I'm here." He called. He looked around for a moment and something caught his eye. Yuki wasn't there.
"Um. I don't see Yuk...." He heard the sound of a jet striker and looked up. There sure enough was Yuki coming in for a landing, a little late to.
"Somethings not right." Yuri said quietly. "Shes not pulling back to land...OH GOD SHES GONNA CRASH!" Yuri shouted running towards the tarmac.

---

Yuki had stopped outright crying, but she was still sobbing, and her flight pattern had become quite erratic. By the time they arrived at Odessa Yuki felt drained and tired. She barely noticed they were landing, and ended up circling the airport a good number. Yuki was beginning to feel more tired by the second, and as she approached the runway for landing she felt her eyes beginning to shut, and she had to force herself to stay awake. She was so tired she barely put herself in landing position, and at five feet above the runway her eyes closed and she passed out. She tilted forwards and hit the ground. Her strikers were ripped from her body and she rolled across the tarmac. At last she came to a rest about twenty feet from her strikers.

Bushra turned once again as Yuri yelled, just in time to witness his sister crash onto the tarmac.

“Oh that is not good.” She said nearly automatically in what could be the understatement of the year.

Previously Meanwhile...

Ottoman Empire – Vilayet of Syria – 20 miles South of Damascus

Asaad yawned heavily. Him and the three men who had survived the surprise attack on his motorcade had been up most of the night loading their mysterious savior’s strikers onto the back of one of the intact trucks and digging graves in the sand of the desert. Graves for both the other men who had been in the convoy as well as for the witches who had attacked them.

His men had been easy. Both him and they both knew and even expected such a things as death to happen, and there was some solace in knowing one’s family would know. The witches…the little girls…had been much more difficult.

They had ended up taking photos of the girls, but they weren’t sure what to do with them. Even if they found their families, which was unlikely at best, they couldn’t very well show them photos of their children with the upper receiver from weapons lodged in their foreheads. Which meant they wouldn’t know if they were the right family.

“Allahu Ackbar I hate this world sometimes.” Asaad muttered.

Ten minutes or so later Asaad heard a bumping and yawning from the backseat, and then the girl’s childish face leaned forward into the front section of the jeep. She didn’t look all that better than she had the previous night, except now the looks were more visible in the mid-morning sun. Dark black spots hung below her eyes and the cheery attitude one would expect to see in a girl her age was completely gone.

The girl yawned dramatically, but didn’t say anything.

[Do you speak Arabic?] Asaad asked, hoping he wouldn’t have to solely talk to the girl in English. His was incredibly rusty.

The girl just looked at him oddly.

Sighing, Asaad switched back to English. It was typical for the Jewish citizens of the Empire. They spoke Hebrew and English and oftentimes outright refused to learn any Arabic just as Arabs refused to learn any Hebrew. It was such persistent refusal on both sides the Ottomans had used to their advantage quite successfully over the last sixty years. The lack of a real common language meant a lack of communication between the Jews and the Arabs that lived around them. Which lead to both sides being taken advantage of as Ottoman officials claimed that the opposing side of whoever he was talking to was conniving to do all sorts of nastiness unless the Ottomans were there to stop them.

“Do you speak Arabic at all?”

The girl shook her head.

Worth a try. Asaad thought. “Miad Asaad.” Asaad said, pointing to himself.

The girl tilted her head and looked at him as if he were an idiot. “I can speak English fine, dummy.” She said rolling her eyes. “Me Athalia Gantz, me speak English. Me speak English good.” For a brief moment as the girl made fun of him Asaad noticed a glint of happiness in the girl’s eyes, but it faded quickly.

“Greetings, Athalia.” Asaad said playing up his own accent to try and get the girl’s smile to return. He failed quite miserably.

“I don’t mean to criticize but would you mind telling me just how you came to save us?”

The girl sighed and looked to the floor of the jeep. “They took my daddy and he told me that if anything ever happened to him I should find you with this.” The girl said quickly, digging out a small GPS from one of her pockets. The battery was almost dead but a clear dot could be seen on the screen that slowly moved as the jeep travelled through the desert.

Asaad had a multitude of thoughts at this. First he realized just WHO this girl shared a last name with, and thus who she was a daughter of, a thought which had rather enormous implications for what was going on inside the Empire. Then he realized the sneaky bastard she had the audacity to call 'daddy' had put a tracking device on his car.

Shaking his head, Asaad could only curse the man in his head. If he said what he was thinking his daughter might think him and 'daddy' were lifelong enemies.

“Alright, slow down a bit.” Asaad said, holding up his hands. “Perhaps we should start at the beginning. Just who took your father? The Security Forces? The Army? Palace Guard, perhaps?”

The girl shook her head at all three of these. “That’s just it, I don’t know. Nobody who was around before I left knew. But they were witches! Or at least, a good number of them were witches.”

Asaad stared at the young girl for a handful of seconds before sighing loudly placing his head in his hands. This was not good.

“I REALLY hate the world sometimes.” He muttered.

[Minroz]

Odessa

Ruya and Sohvi finally touched down at their temporary home in Odessa International Airport, the last to do so. On the flight in they had been escorted to the base by a pair of Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, the full-size versions. Orussia clearly wanted to both impress and show that they were on the side of the 501st.

Ruya sighed audibly as she slipped out of her Striker units and jumped onto the warm tarmac, walking towards the main hangar. Sohvi followed her in, and the two entered together.

"All right, is everyone accounted for?"

Slipping out of her striker units and jumped onto the tarmac, Nuray breathe a sigh of relief to be on the ground again. When she saw the pair of Su-35 fighter jets, she was afraid they’re going to target her but to her relief they’re not. Still, it does not stop her from suspecting Orussian authorities in attempting to kill her.

“Yes Ma’am, Lieutenant Nuray Shahin here.” Nuray replied to Ruya.

-snip-

Hearing Yuri’s yell, she turn to witness his sister crash onto the tarmac. Without hesitation, Nuray quickly run off to help Yuki up beckoning Yuri to lend a hand, in case of injuries.

“Hey Yuki, are you alright?” the Turkish girl asks in deep concern, holding Yuki up.

[Al-Harbiyyah]

"Alright beginning landing." The head-pilot of the Kawasaki C-2 transport said as he switch on the landing gear as they approaching Odessa International Airport. The rest of the crews finally sighed in relief as they finally saw the runway.

Yukine in particular still sat with the pilot crew on the cockpit and saw the Witches of the 501st finally land on the airport until she saw one of them shows an unusual erratic flight pattern, Yukine still kept her eye on the Witch as she circling above the airport several times.

"Okay any minute now." the head-pilot began his approach onto the runway when he and the rest of the crew including Yukine herself shows what has happened next, "Wait is it me or is that Witch..."

In all Yukine's experience as a Combat Medic Witch, she could clearly see through the behavior of that particular Witch to be a sign of exhaustion and that is particularly dangerous for any Witch using Air Striker Units and to her horror, she saw the Witch crashed on the tarmac and lying down on the runway motionless.

"Oh Kami-sama...That poor Witch crashed! Performing Go-around maneuver!" The head pilot said as his and his co-pilot slowly ascend back to perform a go-around maneuver to give time for the people on the runway to get the Witch out from the tarmac in fear that the transport plane might rolled over the Witch.

Yukine on the other hand wanted to help that Witch and she immediately ordered, "Open the rear door! I'm going out!" She darted back to the rear of the plane without even to wait a reply from the pilot.

"I guess we should let her go first." the head-pilot chuckles as he began switch on the rear door to be opened.

Back on the rear, she finally strapped in her F-2A Striker thanks to the Fuso peacekeeper soldiers helping her strapping on the Striker. As the door opened, she concentrated her power to activate the Jet Striker Engine and began move towards the opened rear door with the help of the same Fuso peacekeeping soldiers.

"Captain Yukine Ishizawa! Take off!" She shouts as the Fuso soldiers pushed her out from the C-2 and immediately started her Striker Engine and darted to the airport.

As she approach the airport, she immediately headed to the tarmac where she the downed Witch was after she landed. She saw several people there surround the downed Witch with a worried looks etched on their face. She deactivated her Striker and walks towards them, "Let me take a look at her. Don't worry I'm a trained Medic."

[Imota]

"Puller here, ma'am," said Beatrice in response to Ruya's question after taxiing to the hangar and getting out of her strikers. She was about to ask Natalie where the mess hall was when she heard Yuri shout. She ran outside just in time to see Yuki crash.

She shouted indistinctly as Yuki hit the ground. She began running towards the downed Witch, hoping that her injuries weren't too serious. When she arrived, there were already several people there. She turned to face a Fusoese Witch who claimed to have been trained as a medic.

"You a medic?" she asked rhetorically. Without waiting for an answer, she said, "in that case, what are your orders, ma'am?"

[Al-Harbiyyah]

"Puller here, ma'am," said Beatrice in response to Ruya's question after taxiing to the hangar and getting out of her strikers. She was about to ask Natalie where the mess hall was when she heard Yuri shout. She ran outside just in time to see Yuki crash.

She shouted indistinctly as Yuki hit the ground. She began running towards the downed Witch, hoping that her injuries weren't too serious. When she arrived, there were already several people there. She turned to face a Fusoese Witch who claimed to have been trained as a medic.

"You a medic?" she asked rhetorically. Without waiting for an answer, she said, "in that case, what are your orders, ma'am?"

"Give me some space. I need to check her injuries." Yukine said and she approaches the downed Witch whose name is Yuki based on the guy who shouts her name. Ignoring others, she immediately put her hand on top of Yuki's head and a faint glow coming from her hand as her Fusonese Bobcat familiar appeared.

Several minutes later, she finally lift her hand and said, "She'll be fine...although she need to get to the triage center or field hospital judging by the severity of her crash. She at least suffer several broken ribs, dislocated shoulder and a broken left leg. I managed to fix the light wound. For the heavy wounds...I could manage to reduce the pain she's having and I suggest that she needs to go to any field hospital nearby."

She then looked at the Liberion who talked to her and ordered, "I need a stretcher, two planks or anything straight for her left feet and bandage. Oh and don't forget to call the ERT (Emergency Response Team) to get her to the nearest medical center."

[Wolfenium]

"Puller here, ma'am," said Beatrice in response to Ruya's question after taxiing to the hangar and getting out of her strikers. She was about to ask Natalie where the mess hall was when she heard Yuri shout. She ran outside just in time to see Yuki crash.

She shouted indistinctly as Yuki hit the ground. She began running towards the downed Witch, hoping that her injuries weren't too serious. When she arrived, there were already several people there. She turned to face a Fusoese Witch who claimed to have been trained as a medic.

"You a medic?" she asked rhetorically. Without waiting for an answer, she said, "in that case, what are your orders, ma'am?"

"Give me some space. I need to check her injuries." Yukine said and she approaches the downed Witch whose name is Yuki based on the guy who shouts her name. Ignoring others, she immediately put her hand on top of Yuki's head and a faint glow coming from her hand as her Fusonese Bobcat familiar appeared.

Several minutes later, she finally lift her hand and said, "She'll be fine...although she need to get to the triage center or field hospital judging by the severity of her crash. She at least suffer several broken ribs, dislocated shoulder and a broken left leg. I managed to fix the light wound. For the heavy wounds...I could manage to reduce the pain she's having and I suggest that she needs to go to any field hospital nearby."

She then looked at the Liberion who talked to her and ordered, "I need a stretcher, two planks or anything straight for her left feet and bandage. Oh and don't forget to call the ERT (Emergency Response Team) to get her to the nearest medical center."

Not a moment too soon, a stretcher, a medical kit and a pair of wooden planks were laid beside the injured witch. Standing over Yuki and Yukine, a cold-faced brunette glared down with a blank, apathetic stare, fixing up the stretcher as they prepare to bring Yuki on it. Chillingly unfazed by the injury to her fellow witch, Adela simply stated in an emotionless droll, "there is a medical centre at Odessa's Western Naval Base. We can escort her there on foot. However, not all of us can speak Russian or Ukrainian, and the only person I know who can has refused to step off the carrier even once. Anything else you need, though?"