OS&G: Chapter 1A, An Unwanted Guest

by **Sonitusia** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 6:24 am

An Unwanted Guest

"There are some things you can only learn in a storm..."

7th of July, 1937
1200 Hours, 700 kilometers off the Fuso coastline, Fuso Sea

The sky was clear blue, and the sun shone brightly. Reflections cast by the rays of light bounced across the surface of the sea below, rippling as the waves curled on the water's surface. The wind was the perfect speed to keep anyone cool as they made their way through the area. Indeed there were some who were passing through, or, rather, flying through. The hum of engines working and the buzzing of propellers could be heard up above, leading to the source of a witch and her small squad.

In recent events, new strikers based upon the Miyafuji theory had been put into production, giving the witches a much more enhanced strength and magic when in comparison to the old backpack units that were used during the First Neuroi War. A live example could be seen from the striker that one of the witches above the Fuso Sea was wearing; a Fokker D.XXI, made by the Dutch.

The current situation was a mysterious sighting of unknown forces within the sea, and a few recon parties had been sent out from the Fuso mainland. Chances are it may be a small group of Kaii like what happened in Hispania a year ago, and the Fuso military had decided that a minimal amount of witches could deal with such a threat with ease. Some other witch units were on alert, but otherwise the country believed that nothing was wrong, and life continued without any disturbances.

"Sial, I didn't sign up to do sightseeing," the witch using Dutch strikers grumbled, fixing her glasses as they slightly tilted to the left. This was Sergeant der 1e klasse Hanifah Perdanakusuma, a volunteer from the Nusantaran volunteer group code-named GERBANG SUTERA. She was gripping onto her Britannian Vickers MG lightly, lazily scanning the water and horizon for any threats. "Besides, this sea is just like the one back home," she continued, "blue, and filled with water."

She also had a long bamboo pole on her back, something that could be said as a rapier would be to a Gallian witch. Except it wasn't a family heirloom or was expensive at all. In fact, she had plenty of spares, of which she would constantly replenish whenever the girl had time. Thinking of something to do, she spoke into her microphone with her rather beginner Fuso, "Flight Sergeant Perdanakusuma, radio check to all flying units, over."

If there is anything out here, they're going to pay for annoying the radar crews!

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 7:28 am

Aiko, for what seemed the thousandth time, forced down the swell of panic within her at the sight of the seemingly endless sea below. Some of the other witches had commented about how pretty it was, only to be sharply reprimanded by the girl for breaking radio silence. That they had no such orders to practice radio silence was irrelevant to her, it was a convenient excuse to shut them up. She hated the ocean, perhaps even feared it, though she would never admit to such out-loud. The least those with her could do was 'enjoy' the sight in silence as she suppressed the panicked side of her and studiously avoided looking down for too long a time.

Crash into the sea and they'll never even find our body!
One broken part in the strikers and we'll crash into the sea!
Surrounded by never-ending amounts of water...There's monsters in the water, remember? If filling our lungs with salt-water didn't take us first, then they would!
Are we crazy! Why was it allowed for us to get put into a Carrier squadron? Why?

Aiko grunted and adjusted the grip on her machine-gun. She scanned the horizon once again to try and distract herself. Nonetheless, she found herself forced to answer the thought.

Because I was assigned to a carrier squadron. Witches in the military follow their orders. Unlike you I respect that instead of try to subvert it whenever something comes up I don't like.

...You can't be serious...We're the PRINCESS, princess. We used that to get us into the military in the first place! We could have found someone in the chain of command willing to--

Aiko's thoughts were interrupted by someone speaking halting Fuso over the radio. One of the Nusantaran's, of course. It would be. Her own flight knew better by now than to broadcast anything that would get them yelled at by the former Princess. It was too convenient a distraction for her from herself.

"This is Flight Lieutenant Aiko of squadron 3. We do, indeed, still have functioning radios." Aiko said, not hiding the snort of amusement she ended the sentence with. She had to give the girl credit for at least broadcasting in proper Fuso. She had feared, upon hearing of their deployment, the Nusantaran forces would be limited to Dutch. Or worse, their native tongues. Wouldn't that have made command and control a pain?

No need for us to mock the girl.

It makes me feel better and it shuts you up about the water, so yes there is.

Aiko ground her teeth together and growled slightly at the rebel in her mind.

by **Sonitusia** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 8:45 am

"Bagus, I thought command gave me a faulty set again," Hanifah replied once more in the host's language, wanting to continue the conversation to practice her Fusoan. Knowing more languages proves the intelligence of a person, and in turn a nation. She had indeed learned the language before she began her tour, as requested by Dutch high command to improve the relations between the Netherlands and Fuso. She did so, but mostly used it to her advantage so that she can try and gain Fusoan sympathy for Nusantara. However, before she could open her mouth, there was a small dot in the distance that caught her attention.

It was moving in a straight line, though it seemed to be alone. The path it flew at didn't look like it would arrive anywhere of importance, and it may have been a cargo plane. Or maybe a large bird.

"Sutra-1 reporting to Squadron 3," she said, "I see something to our 3 o'clock, looks like it's not going in our direction though. Be advised, over." She wasn't really a fan of all these radio calls either, but she had to show some respect to the Fusoans, especially that Flight Lieutenant.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 1:06 pm

Aiko sighed as she lazily tilted herself to glance towards the Nusantaran witch. The colony's military forces didn’t have the best reputation for equipment maintenance or upkeep, but she wasn’t honestly sure if that was a truth or merely the byproduct of her own military’s pride with it's own workmanship at the same. To be fair, the jokes she heard could just as likely be the result of their Dutch masters assigning second-rate equipment all-around in their colonial possessions. Even the forces they stationed there from Europe were lacking in some type of modern equipment or another, after all.

Even if they did have to worry about faulty radios, Aiko supposed she should be thankful the Nusantaran witches had modern strikers.

“Noted, Sutra-one.” Aiko said, careful to keep herself from sounding patronizing. They were, after all, supposed to be keeping an eye out for ‘suspicious activity’, whatever that meant. The girl was merely doing that job to the letter and pointing out something she noticed and thought was suspicious.

Maybe it’s someone—or something—we can murder!

Hush, you.

Aiko pivoted so she could stare in the direction indicated, and narrowed her eyes against the noontime sun. There was something, but precisely what was difficult to tell. At this range, and with no reference point on the ocean below, it was hard to judge size. But it was something to relieve the tedium…And to distract the voice in her head from its ranting about the ocean below.

“Sutra-one, take a closer look and keep us informed.”

How do we politely ask someone to do something for us, princess?

Aiko growled to herself again, “…Please. Over.”

by **Sonitusia** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 1:28 pm

Please?

Hanifah let the word dance around in her head for a moment. She wondered why a superior officer needed to say that when it was an order. It wasn't something normal, but she let the thought drift aside. "Order confirmed, out." She broke off formation to take a better look. Making a long turn, she began flying on a path to intercept, keeping her eyes squinted so she could make out the shape an color of the object.

It looks like... A plane?... Indeed, the shape was like a biplane, and the way it flew was indeed like one. She'd seen many planes like this being flown by pilots that were training. Nifty things they were, but Hanifah's trainer had put her directly inside a striker. At least now I'm the best at using these. Then the colors threw her off. She began to speed up, and then activated her radio once more "Sutra-1 to Squadron 3, unknown is hostile," she reported, "I say again, unknown is hostile Kaii. Moving to engage, out." This'll be a piece of cake!

Using her training from both the Dutch and some observation of Fuso flight practice, Hanifah flew higher than the plane-Kaii, high enough that the air began to be chilly. Then, she dived. Using the sun behind her, she pointed the Vickers' barrel right at the wings of the biplane. Steady, steady... As she roared downwards, she didn't fire, until she came within a hundred or so meters. The Kaii could not react, and she let loose a long squeeze of the trigger, ripping apart the wings and making it tumble to the seas below. "Woo, got it!"

Little did Hanifah know that more of them were on their way, and it was only a matter of time until someone noticed.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Tue Sep 22, 2015 10:03 pm

Kaii? Here? Aiko breezed through her acknowledgement of Sutra-1s statements and shifted her focus to the skies around her as the girl succeeded in sending the thing down. A corner of her mind noted the ease with which the witch pulled it off, and grudgingly promised itself to tell less jokes about Nusantaran witches. Another corner of her mind was less rational.

Aww. We wanted to kill it! We wanted to kill it we-wanted-to-kill-it WEWANTEDTOKILLIT! Think there’s any more? Think there’s others coming? Think they can feel pain? We hope they can feel pain.

Aiko hurriedly glanced around her. Eyes scanning the horizon once again for any similar signs of activity, she stopped her forward momentum and took the opportunity to bring a hand to her forehead to block the sun. Kaii never showed up in isolated singlets like this, did they?

They didn’t.

“More Kaii, flight lieutenant!” One of the younger witches called out, pointing. Aiko was about to reprimand her for not using an appropriate descriptor for their direction, but the words died in her throat as she followed where the arm was pointed. There were a lot of them.

Yay! Let’s ask them if they can feel pain, princess! Let’s hurt them and see if they scream! See HOW they scream! They’d be a good substitute for the moment, don’t we think?

Aiko quashed the horribly inappropriate thought as best she could. They seemed to be focusing on Sutra-1, flying towards her almost single-mindedly. Aiko began forward again and dived towards the approaching aircraft-shaped Kaii…Aircraft? Aiko started slightly, recognizing the distinct bi-wing design. That was odd.

No time to think about it now, though.

“Destroy them!” She ordered simply, careful not to allow herself to release the mad laughter of anticipation the words inspired. Trying to restrain herself, Aiko released a short burst from her machine-gun to find the range. Adjusting her aim slightly, she squeezed the trigger again and bared her fangs as the stream of rounds impacted into one of the lead Kaii.

by **Sonitusia** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 4:14 am

Screeching loudly, the Kaii plummeted to the sea below, not a trace of it left as it sank into the depths. Noticing their fallen brethren, a formation of the other Kaii broke off, now switching to the main witch force that had struck. On the Neuroi communications, a large amount were formed into an assault group, and soon there would be more than a recon force needed to deal with them.

Hanifah had noticed the increasing amount of Kaii emerging, and soon she was quickly being trailed by a biplane-Kaii that constantly fired lasers at her. Using her reflexes, she shook the lasers off and made a loop, getting behind the alien fast and ripping a new one in it. The engines of the monster stalled, and it too joined its brothers in the sea. But he was quickly replaced, and a dozen red lights surrounded the Nusantaran witch. "Vloek!" she shouted, using the Dutch phrase angrily as she opened her magic shield. They didn't do any harm to her, and she continued to get back to the main force. "Flight Lieutenant!" she shouted, blocking yet another laser and firing a burst from her MG, "Please send a distress signal, we'll never be able to take these all down without more help!"

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Thu Sep 24, 2015 11:09 am

Aiko almost condemned the Nusantaran as a coward. Almost ignored the other witch's advice entirely as she gleefully blazed away. The Kaii could be hurt. They could be killed. Best of all, they could feel it happening. And they could scream. Killing animals or people would get you strange looks, but Kaii? Nobody cared if you killed Kaii, so she didn't have to pretend to fell any guilt over it.

Stop it! You are going to get people killed without backup!

We are enjoying ourselves though, princess!

I said stop it!

Aiko was forced to throw up her shield as one of the Kaii turned towards her head-on and spat a pair of beams at her from its front. Carefully allowing the shield to weaken in the more outer regions, she winced as portions of the blast clawed into her shoulders and arms. But in comparison to what else she'd dealt with, the slashes made by the weakened lasers was nothing. In seconds, the open wounds they had produced were gone.

Aiko methodically fired her machine-gun into one of the Kaii's wings, and rolled out of its path as it began to spiral down to the ocean below. There were a half-dozen more following it, and still more forming up around them. The Nusantaran was right. They simply didn't have enough guns. They might not even have enough ammo! They'd been tasked with, and thus armed for, light reconnaissance. Nobody had expected them to encounter so many of the things...

"Sakamoto, inform the task force we've encountered multiple Kaii and require any available assistance immediately." Aiko squeezed out, the words seeming to come difficult to her. She had to fight through the howling, instinctual objections in her mind to get them out. If they told others, others would get to kill them instead of her, and then how much fun would it be?

by **Sonitusia** » Fri Sep 25, 2015 5:17 am

Perking up, a young girl wearing a sailor uniform and a swimsuit underneath saluted. "Haik!" she replied, slinging her machine gun and turning the knobs of her radio set. She could only see through a single eye, the other covered by an eye patch. But it wasn't an injury; it was to save her magic strength so that the magic eye behind it didn't drain her so much.

This was 1st Class Flight Petty Officer Mio Sakamoto of the Imperial Fuso Navy. She had been tasked with operating the radio. Although it did annoy her slightly, she did her duty honorably, and sent the message. "This is 1st Recon Task Group to all availble witches! Requesting reinforcements, enemy group has been spotted, 800 kilometers from the Fuso coast, making a straight line towards Kyoto! I repeat, enemy force headed for Kyoto!"

Satisfied that the petty officer had sent the signal, Hanifah felt calmer and flew forwards the group, point a fist towards the Neuroi forces. "Lautan Api!" she boomed, and a swirling firestorm shot from her arms, blazing their way to the large group before her. Coming into contact, it became a literal sea of flames, melting the entire front line within the Nusantaran's line of vision.

"Conserve your ammo, everyone! We have to hold out!" she called out in Nusantaran. Upon realizing her mistake, she repeated the phrase in Fusoan. Oops~

by **Toishima** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 4:14 am

Roughly 74 kilometres away

"...1st Recon Task Group... Requesting reinforcements, enemy group... 800 kilometers... straight line... I repeat, enemy force headed for Kyoto!"

Sergeant Noriko Tanaka flew in formation with the rest of the unit, flying in the leftmost position of their V formation after having taken off from their carrier. She was dressed in the standard-issue sailor uniform with the one-piece swimsuit. She blended in perfectly; if this was a war movie she would be paid 600 yen an hour to appear in the background of the combat scenes. Around her head was tied a white hachimaki with the kanji for "necessary victory" on it, flanking the Fusoan disc.

"1st Recon Task Group, 24th Carrier Division, 288th Flying Corps. We're ten minutes out, hang on!"

The bespectacled witch listened to what her squadron leader had to say, then switched off. The others began chattering about how unusual this sortie was, speculating on the rumoured strength of the Kaii and commenting on the beauty of the ocean, as if they didn't already see it every day, being stationed on a carrier. Her eye twitched as someone suggested they find a way to hang back and let the other reinforcements deal with the situation. Disgusting.

If I go away to the sea,
I shall be a corpse washed up.

She flew on the standard A5M striker units and carried the standard 7.7mm Type-97 aircraft machine gun. She also carried a sword from home, a low-quality Imperial Army standard-issue piece that her mother had sent her off with. Every Tanaka child received a sword when they left for service. She just happened to be last one to go. A trio of bamboo poles were also strapped to her back, a weapon of her own invention designed to complement an attack strategy she devised independently for her own magical ability. She named it Divine Wind, after that historical event in Fuso's history.

If I go away to the mountain,
I shall be a corpse in the grass.

"Five minutes. Check your weapons, girls," her squadron leader reported.

All idle conversation died down. Noriko checked her machine gun as ordered, chambering a round. She flipped up and methodically looked down the sights before moving it back to her hip. Despite her hardened exterior, the Nagasaki native still felt a rush of adrenaline and excitement as they neared the combat zone. Finally, she would enter the battle zone and achieve victory. She would halt the enemy from desecrating the nation. She would secure the honour of the Emperor.

But if I die for the Emperor,
It will not be a regret.

by **Republic of Hasgriu** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:03 am

WOI Chan, Yuhua
Approximately 1,300 km out from Hong Kong

Yuhua's flight was returning from a fruitless patrol, following a report by a recon plane on what was supposedly a Neuroi craft. The Vickers Vildebeest equipped detachment from the SSVF relocated to Hong Kong, and took off, to no avail. Clad in her multicoloured knickers, Yuhua, who was beginning to feel boredom set in after the first twenty rounds of I Spy, heard a distressed communication over the radio.

"This is 1st Recon Task Group to all available witches! Requesting reinforcements, enemy group has been spotted, 800 kilometers from the Fuso coast, making a straight line towards Kyoto! I repeat, enemy force headed for Kyoto!"

The flight lieutenant in charge immediately turned around, complaining and ordering, "Aiyo, and I thought we could finally go sleep again! Warrant, tell them we're coming. Girls, let's go kill those bloody stupid Neuroi!"

Yuhua, having drawn the short stick for the mission, carried out the flight lead's command calmly, thankful for the foreign language course she got from one of the officers during training. "1st Recon Task Group, four witches on the way. We'll be there in about fifteen minutes."

Before they moved off, the Temasek witches did a final weapons inspection. Yuhua examined her Lewis, firing off a shot into the sea for good measure, and did the same for her sidearm. As she unsheathed her parang, and stared at her reflection, she felt afraid. But she also felt proud, proud that she would be fighting for her country, her parents, and her Shenzhou kin. The noise of the rest of her fellow SSVF witches leaving made her place the blade back, and soon, the four were off to fight the Neuroi.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:51 am

"Conserve your ammo, everyone. We have to hold out!"

It was decent advice, coming from the Nusantaran witch. Aiko ignored it and sent an almost continuous stream of gunfire into the approaching Kaii. She twisted and looped, using her maneuverability to avoid the monsters field of fire and gain a position behind them to cause enough damage to make them begin spiraling to their death in the ocean below. Biplanes were obsolete, as much as the backpack-requiring strikers she'd used in training were. How, or why, the creatures had taken such form remained a question, but one for later. Right now she needed to focus on the killing, and the tempting shrieking they let out as they fell to their deaths. It wasn't human, but it was still pleasant.

Aiko's gun clicked dry and she snarled in anger at being cheated of another kill. Carelessly slinging the now-useless firearm behind her back, she drew the katana at her side. The one which had been gifted to her by the Imperial household on her eighth birthday. She already knew how fine a blade it was. At the moment, it needed to be used for something besides its intended use. But she already know how well it served in that role as well.

We shall kill as many as we can before they come and steal the pleasure from us!

One of the Kaii turned towards her. Aiko almost growled with laughter as it fired and didn't bother with a shield. She merely extended the sword-arm into the best rendition of gedan-no-kamae she was capable of. The shot seemed to stop as if it had encountered the world's hardest witch-shield the moment it connected with the sword. Aiko twisted slightly, making the sword begin into a basic attacking move, and her magic flared. The Kaii's attack blazed back at it, arcing sideways through the air and catching another of the hapless things in its path of destruction.

Aiko made sure her radio was off and giggled. Monsters killed by their own monstrosity! She liked nothing better.

The witch worked her magic again and again. Kaii blasted themselves apart with the fury of their own attacks, virtually dissolving as the destructive beams which could wipe-out an entire squadron of conventional aircraft were returned at them. Kaii died by the handful. Aiko was happy. Thank the gods there was going to be a war! Her tenure in the military would be all for naught if there wasn't a war on where she could revel in the death and destruction. Kaii might not be a good as people, but they were a good enough substitute. After all, she could just imagine they had feelings and consciousness like people did. It wasn't like there was anything contradicting that assumption, and it made it so much more fun to ruthlessly murder them!

"Reinforcements are only minutes out, flight lieutenant!" a buzzing fly named Sakamoto reported in her ear, drawing her away for a moment from the mad joy of killing. Aiko entertained the thought of squashing the pest, but the beam she would have to redirect for such a purpose likely wouldn't produce much of a scream if it struck the other witch completely unblocked by a shield. Besides, if she did that then they wouldn't let her murder Kaii any more! Though it could probably be excused as accidental if she acted properly enough...

You will kill the Kaii, not people!

Oh what's the matter, princess? Afraid to admit what we are?

by **Sonitusia** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 12:17 pm

A couple more witch forces was a great thing to hear, but then Hanifah noticed the flight lieutenant going on a rampage. As much as the spirit of the girl was admirable, the Nusantaran couldn't help but feel that she was actually going on a path of bloodlust, and if she wasn't careful, she wouldn't be able to make it out on her own. As good as these Fuso witches are, there can't be anything good from leaving your friends behind! She tried to contact Aiko multiple times, but it seemed that her radio may indeed be faulty.

Checking her remaining ammo, Hanifah followed the similarly young Sakamoto to the lieutenant, who was given a gleam of terrible intent. She could see the fear in her comrade's eye, when she also noticed another neuroi sneaking up behind them. She quickly destroyed the aircraft, but her ammo was depleted. Tossing the weapon aside, she powered up her engine, getting in front of the lieutenant with her bamboo pole in hand. I don't give a damn about a court-martial...

She slapped the girl. "Flight Lieutenant, please calm down and let's work together as a team!" she said. She gestured to the Neuroi who now had them surrounded, and the fellow witches that were stuck in dogfights without ammunition.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Sun Sep 27, 2015 7:50 pm

Aiko desperately wanted to slice something off of the Nusantaran witch. Not anything vital, of course. That would be an overreaction. But a finger or two, perhaps? One could function without their pinkies.

It is no more than you deserve for slapping Us. I am a Princess of Fuso!

Aiko forced herself to set the selfish desire aside, however, and take a more unbiased view of the situation. They were surrounded, and her witches were out of ammo. The only thing helping them at the moment was they could, sometimes, cover each others backs. Much as she wished she didn't, the girl who'd slapped her had a point.

If you are incapable of even slightly controlling yourself, you will not be able to kill.

...We shall behave more cooperatively. For now.

Aiko was sure that was the most she could ask for from herself. She glared at the Nusantaran for a moment, and then turned her radio back on and did her Duty. "Flight, form up on me. Kimiko, Rei, shield us from the rear. Let's get out of here and try to regroup with the reinforcements."

We will be needed. Let us continue in our role, princess. The body we are in remains uninjured.

Very well. You will do as I said?

Yes, princess.

Aiko took a slight lead and danced left and right in front of the small recon group as it flew through one small portion of the encirclement, sending lasers glancing harmlessly to the sea below. Occasionally, when there was time or need, stabbing one of the lasers she redirected towards nearby Kaii. She would have to thank the Nusantaran witch when they landed, perhaps in person or perhaps merely by not pressing any charges concerning her...unorthodox manner of complaint. It was an international incident, after all, and she had no desire to strain the cooperation of the nearby Dutch colony or its people by making too great a matter of something so minor.

She would be very clear that such a thing was Not to Happen Again, though.

"Be ready to try and make a hole for us to get through!" Aiko called. She was rapidly weakening from all the beams she'd thrown back at the monsters, and couldn't count on herself to supply such a thing. She didn't like relying on others to do it, but had no choice if she wished to live to fight in the rest of the glorious conflict that was to come.

by **Minroz** » Wed Sep 30, 2015 7:47 am

What the surrounded witches haven’t expect that someone has already swooped in into the fray. Sounds of a machine gun echoed loudly as barrage of bullets were struck from above, destroying several smaller neurois in the process. More astoundingly, they’re all well-placed shots! The surprise attack from an ally has given more breathing room for the Allied witches fortunately. Still, the battle isn’t over, there’re hostile aliens around.

An East Asian girl in her Dutch strikers, armed with the Britannian Lewis MG appeared from the skies and quickly joins the group. She dons her military uniform like Hanifah, albeit it looked bit ragged comparing to her bespectacled comrade’s own. Anyone from GERBANG SUTERA will eventually recognised the newcomer, it’s Wiryo Yin in the flesh! But the girl didn’t seem to be a friendly person as characterised like her Nusantaran compatriots. With the dispassionate look of indifference, Yin looked like she’s deliberately showing off.

“Pardon me for being late, everyone. I was taking a nice nap on the clouds.” She said candidly in her accented Fusoan, exhibiting her sarcasm. Nor seems to be apologetic about her tardiness, Yin was trailing Aiko and Hanifah the whole time ever since recon have started.

Within her squadron, Wiryo Yin is known to be bit of a troublemaker especially her cold-hearted exterior have put off people at distances and her casual rudeness towards her Dutch superiors. No amount of court martial against her is going to change all that soon.

Nevertheless, she is a Strike Witch, recognising her duty and the enemy before her, the Shenzhou-blooded Nusantaran then brought up her Lewis to bear at the remaining neurois.

by **Sonitusia** » Fri Oct 02, 2015 9:10 pm

"Finally decided to show up, eh?" Hanifah chided, patting the fellow Nusantaran's back as she covered her rear, "Dasar bocah." The Neuroi were relentless, albeit still weak, and Hanifah continued to cover her countryman's rear as the onslaught continued.

In the distance, more Neuroi forces had begun gathering, but it didn't seem that there would be a full out attack for now. With the forward force dwindling in strength, the remaining neuroi had begun falling back to the main group, with several stragglers covering their retreat. "Chuui, they're falling back!" Sakamoto called out, her hands gripped around a katana. The girl had run out of ammo some time ago, and had relied on her swift movements and quick reactions to weave her way through a barrage of lasers.

Not to mention she had a magic eye. It helped things.

Hanifah's weapon had clicked dry, and so she shot out bolts of fire at anything that tried to get near. It wasn't as effective, but it did scare the Neuroi away for some time. And as their numbers grew smaller, she felt much more calmer than before.

But at the same time unease, looking at the force that was gathering.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 12:28 am

Sonitusia wrote:"Chuui, they're falling back!" Sakamoto called out, her hands gripped around a katana. The girl had run out of ammo some time ago, and had relied on her swift movements and quick reactions to weave her way through a barrage of lasers.

"So they are." Aiko said, noting the way the things were pulling back. She got the distinct impression they were simply concentrating their forces instead of fleeing in defeat.

We should give chase! We can still--

No. We are out of ammunition and have exerted ourselves immensely already. We need to return to the task group and rearm, at the least. Perhaps even have a meal. We cannot defeat them all alone.

"We shall keep a distant eye on them, await further reinforcements to replace us, and then return to the carrier. Confronting that," Aiko glanced at the mass of Kaii on the horizon as she, reluctantly, sheathed her katana. "Shall require more firepower than we have available to us at the moment."

"A witch should value punctuality, my Nusantaran friend. See you are not late again." Aiko finally said over the radio to the newly arrived colonial witch, as if addressing a servant. She was surprised by how well the pair had performed in combat. She kept that fact in mind as she slowly allowed herself to drift closer to Sutra-one.

Aiko made sure her radio was off. "I am flight lieutenant Aiko. You shall not report what you did, nor shall I, and you WILL NOT do it again or I shall make your life exceedingly difficult." She said to the other witch, eyes boring into her as if she might stare through the other girl. She meant 'short' by 'difficult', but there were appearances to keep up.

by **Sonitusia** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:31 am

Occupied Deutschland wrote:Aiko made sure her radio was off. "I am flight lieutenant Aiko. You shall not report what you did, nor shall I, and you WILL NOT do it again or I shall make your life exceedingly difficult." She said to the other witch, eyes boring into her as if she might stare through the other girl. She meant 'short' by 'difficult', but there were appearances to keep up.

Looking into the lieutenant's eyes, Hanifah was far from intimidated. In fact, she was ready to talk back to her just as easily as she did her superior Dutch officers. But she chose not to rebel. After all, what had Fuso ever done to her countrymen? No, respect should be shown to anyone who never did wrong. Simply nodding and giving a brisk salute, she replied, "Understood, Chūi."

She slung the Vickers over her shoulder and "laid" in the sky, her eyes looking at the upside-down formation of Neuroi in the distance. An eerie feeling crept over her, and she felt that they should really get back to the carrier. "We should get back to the Kaga..." she muttered, briefly looking at the bottom of her units. Once upon a time they were land-based strikers that were provided to naval units, and after some modifications by Dutch engineers, they added an arrestor hook to allow it easy landing on carriers.

It amused Hanifah greatly, as the Dutch didn't have any aircraft carriers of their own. They relied on the Imperial Fuso Navy to prepare the accommodations for their naval witches, including a ship. This wasn't exactly something that the Fusoan high command took for granted, and they were slightly irked by the Dutch's incompetence in ship building. When we're free, I'll be sure to request that we build our own aircraft carrier.

by **Toishima** » Sun Oct 04, 2015 6:44 am

And just two minutes after the Neuroi disengaged, as the initial force was already having thoughts about leaving, the 24th Carrier Division, 288th Flying Corps finally arrived. The seven girls showed up just in time to see the tails of the enemy slinking away from them into the distance. Some protested in frustration at yet another tiring, fruitless excursion, while others expressed relief at the prospect of surviving yet another day. Tanaka herself was of the former group, begrudgingly re-engaging her safety as ordered as the unit fell in with the witches already on-station. Squadron leader Michiko moved to join the other officers in the vicinity to find out more about the situation, apologising for their lateness, which was largely due to the distance their carrier was from the area, of course.

In the meantime, Tanaka allowed herself to drift back from the rest of the group, continuing to scan the skies, looking at the seething mass of enemies in the distance with a mixture of awe and fear. As some of the other young witches began talking amongst themselves in this brief downtime, the bespectacled girl generally faded into the background. She noted a few foreign witches amongst those already here, eyeing them with suspicion. Wouldn't the defence of Fuso be best entrusted to true Fusoans?

by **Minroz** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:11 am

“Hmph, whatever.” Yin made a sassy reply in response to both Fusoan princess and her fellow countryman. Not like she cares much about their ranks or backgrounds, the Shenzhou-Nusantaran is often like that ever since she joined the squadron. On the other hand, she and Hanifah both seems to make a great team since the two share their rebellious attitudes and both are able witches in their own right. Nevertheless, she chose not to talk back if only to humour the Fusoans in her own way. In the end, Yin gave a nod of silent acknowledgements and then focused her sights at the gathering Neurois.

“…We sure stirred up the hornets nest, didn’t we? I’d say let’s give them a warm welcome from us kind and generous hosts.” She casually remarked. Yin began reloading her Lewis gun in preparations for the next fight.

by **Sonitusia** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:53 am

Hanifah flew closer to Yin, then pushing the Lewis gun down while looking at the girl sternly. "Stand down, Korporaal," she said in their mother-tongue, "if you go in there, you'll only have the Temasakens and a few Fusoans to support you." She motioned to the newly arrived unit, which although was fresh in terms of supplies and strength, wouldn't be enough to fight them all off. It wasn't an insult to the group, but she didn't want to completely rely everything on them.

But then she grinned, and placed her hand on the girl's shoulder. "And if that's the way you want to fight, so be it," she continued, "however, I'm suggesting you stay put where we're flying right now. Don't let any Neuroi get past this point until we return, understand?"

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:06 am

Aiko kept her eyes on the Nusantaran witch as she spoke with one of her countrymen, trying to decide whether she was angry at the girl or grateful. She finally settled on 'both' as an answer and clicked her radio back to life.

"Squadron three, return to the Kaga for resupply. I am certain our sisters shall be patient enough not to destroy them all before we can return in greater force." She said with the slightest trace of humor, turning slightly to begin back. Part of her howled at the need to do so, but it understood the importance. One could hardly kill as efficiently without ammunition, could they?

She couldn't say she looked forward to the activity though. It was merely a necessary step to be taken so she could kill more. She could do that. She had to.

by **Austria-Bohemia-Hungary** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 2:06 pm

Second Carrier Division, Imperial Fusō Navy

Somebody higher up in the food-chain fucked up somewhat royally, Eiraku-no-miya Satoko Naishinnō, Lieutenant of the Imperial Fusō Navy let that thought pass through her head as she brushed her bangs back while pacing back and forth on the main deck. She, her first command, and her ship, Kaga was over a thousand kilometers from home in Kure, seven hundred kilometers north of the Home Islands, a mere 200 kilometers from Vladivostok and apparently a hundred kilometers from the next Kaii wave, and almost all their Witches on patrol duty were on the return leg. As a commissioned officer and the daughter of His Imperial Majesty the Current Emperor Satoko never felt a more burning sense of utter shame at their disastrous predicament. However panic was not a state of emotions the sixteen year old would indulge herself in, for by the Gods she was still an officer and she would behave like one until the very end of it. Besides apparently the Kaii seemed to take no interest in such a delicious serving laid bare before them. Hopefully they would maintain this auspicious status quo, giving the Second Carrier Division the time it needed to bring her Witches back on the deck, rearm and reform the patrol cordon.

Still burning red with shame Satoko finally stopped her pacing enough to put her hand on her microphone, made an effort to gulp down her nervosity, clicked once and began in spotless Japanese:
"Chrysathemum Eight-Eleven to all callsigns. Given that we're probably less than a hundred kilometers from the nearest Kaii activity I would like everybody that's out of ammunition to get down on the deck as soon as they are able, have a ten minute tea-break, rearm and reform the patrol cordon as soon as we're able to, and preferably before the Enemy is over us. I would presume that all Witches understands fully the fact that we're the only friendlies in a thousand kilometers in any direction, and that we're on our very own until Nikkosen gets back under air cover from the Home Islands. Any fresh Witches still with plenty of ammunition Will saddle the patrol cordon duty until the 8th Corps is ready for action again. I presume that it is not necessary to stress to the Fusō Witches the heaven-rendering shame that would befall us if we should fail to protect Kaga. Are we all clear with these direct orders? Chrysathemum Eight-Eleven Over."
Removing her hand from the send-button Satoko wiped away the sweat accumulating under her bangs on her handkerchief, stepped back into the waiting launch-unit waiting with her Strikers, and waited nervously of responses. People's heads will roll for this she thought, if she should be lucky enough to get back to the Naval Ministry.

by **Sonitusia** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 3:46 pm

Hearing the orders from the mothership, Hanifah and the other Nusantaran witch attached to the task group turned back and headed towards the Kaga. Both girls didn't need a break, and Hanifah promised herself that they would fly once more the instant that they got more ammunition. No need to panic, the Fuso mainland won't be touched!

Meanwhile, some distance away...

The Imperial Fuso Army had dispatched its own witches into the fight. The 1st Fighter Squadron was its title, under the command of Etou Toshiko. The army had sent out the unit without further notifying the Imperial Navy, in the sort of rivalry common between the two branches. Standing out among the squadron were Anabuki Tomoko, Katou Keiko and Takeko, and finally Kuroe Ayaka. But their sending was not due to a report from the Navy. Rather, it was a third-party call out from a Nusantaran radio that had been intercepted by radio operators near the site.

"Allied forces have come in contact with hostile Kaii," Etou stated once more through the communications, standing in an observation post close to shore, "you're to reinforce them and eliminate all hostiles in the vicinity!"

"Haik!" rang back from the squadron, and the army witches closed in on the flank of the large black formation.

Back near the Navy formation, Takei Junko and Wakamoto Tetsuko had taken to the skies off the deck of Kaga's 'mother', Hoshou. "I hope Mio-chan's alright," Junko murmured, tapping her Type 97 MG anxiously. Her companion simply looked towards the Kaii formation with a slight eagerness, her hand already tightening around the hilt of the sword strapped on her hip. She had completely forgone the machine gun, trusting her ability in swordsmanship would be able to destroy the Kaii much more swiftly.

by **Occupied Deutschland** » Mon Oct 05, 2015 7:21 pm

“Squadron three understands, Chrysanthemum eight-eleven. We are nearing the Kaga now.” Aiko said when her turn to acknowledge the order came. She was made sure to keep voice carefully official. Much as the situation was…Odd…Her sister was her superior, and she would not do anything to undermine that.

Besides, Satoko was a better officer than her, anyways. For that matter, with how much Aiko had depended on her, Sakomoto was probably a better ‘officer’ than her as well. Aiko held no illusions about what had earned her the commission she had. It certainly wasn’t her own abundance of skill, though she strove to gain more of that every day. No, it had been her Imperial connections which, though technically 'severed', weren't entirely removed. It was a message from the Emperor that though he’d been forced to disown her, he was not pleased about doing so. In the peacetime military, such a position being offered to a more rambunctious member of the Imperial Family would’ve hardly been worth batting an eye.

Unfortunately, now that message was caught up in what could be a rather nasty incursion by the Kaii. Aiko was actually happy with that, all things considered. So long as her lack of experience or Naval Academy education didn’t get any of her subjects killed, this was the best way she could excuse killing things. Who else would Fuso have come into conflict with? Nusantara? The colony wasn’t worth the trouble of conquering. Liberion? They were across an ocean and wonderful trading partners.

The Kaii were her opportunity to kill indiscriminately, without mercy, and not be punished for it.

Aiko came to a stop on the carrier and hurriedly withdrew from her strikers. She immediately felt the impact of fatigue from the hours-long patrol, and silently cursed the feeling of weakness that gave her. Casting it aside as violently as she could, she allowed her Type 97 to be taken and reloaded by one of the ordnance-men and snatched a tin of water from a tray being handed to the witches. She drained it quickly and placed it back where it had come from. A ‘ten-minute tea break’ meant no such thing as far as she was concerned.

She took a deep breath and collected her now-reloaded weapon. She glanced quickly over her subordinates, happy to see they were all just as ready as she was. Status known, she quickly approached her commanding officer. Now came the harder part.

“Taii-sama, we are prepared to rejoin the cordon!” Aiko reported neutrally to her sister, bracing to attention and certain to be just as formal as any other naval officer would be when addressing Her Imperial Majesty.

This is ridiculous. She is our sister…

She is a Princess and my superior officer. You shall obey her as if she were father himself.

But we are a Princess!

In deed, perhaps. But not as recognized by the Empire. Do not complain, and do your duty. Or I will resign my commission and you shall not get to kill any more.

The voice in Aiko’s mind offered a wordless grumble at the thought, likely unhappy at its own values being used against it.

OS&G: Chapter 1A, An Unwanted Guest

OS&G: Chapter 1A, An Unwanted Guest

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