Brave Witches Prequel - The Vast Land of Orussia

Illustration work: Shimada Fumikane Kushinada Wirue Design Work: Numa Toshimitsu (D-shi Graphics) Note: The following ages are current as of 7/1944.

___________________________________________________________________________ ROLL CALL ___________________________________________________________________________

Kanno Naoe Rank: Ensign Affiliation: Empire of Fuso Original Unit: Fuso Imperial Navy, 343rd Aviation Division Height: 149cm/4'8" Birthday: 9/23, 14 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Bulldog Special Magic: Compressed Super Hard Defensive Magic Circle (Ã¥Å“Â§Ã§Â¸Â®Ã¥Â¼ÂÃ¨Â¶â€¦Ã§Â¡Â¬Ã¥ÂºÂ¦Ã©ËœÂ²Ã¥Â¾Â¡Ã©Ââ€Ã¦â€“Â¹Ã©â„¢Â£), which shrinks down a magic shield and increases its strength. Craft: Miyabishi Heavy Industries Type 0 Model 22 Weapon: Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai A brave dogfighter who says bigger enemies are there to be knocked out of the sky. She likes to fight up close and personal in battle, but ended up breaking her Striker Unit so often she got the nickname "The Destroyer". Kanno uses the masculine pronoun "ore" to refer to herself, speaks roughly, and is quick to show her emotions. She also loves reading, and enjoys poems and tanka. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Karibuchi Takami Rank: Lieutenant Jr. Grade Affiliation: Empire of Fuso Original Unit: Fuso Imperial Navy, 22nd Aviation Division, 253rd Aviation Division Height: 164cm/5'3" Birthday: 10/22, 17 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Red-crested Crane Special Magic: Mystic Eyes Allows her to detect the hidden location of Neuroi cores Craft: Yamanishi Shiden Model 2 Weapon: Solothurn S-18/1000 20mm Anti-Tank rifle An ace witch belonging to an elite class. Karibuchi Hikari's older sister. She has a calm countenance but is an excellent pilot who has Mystic Eyes. She usually shoots down Neuroi before others have a chance to. She isn't worried about social class and can get along with anyone. Even during times of hardship, she continues to bring hope and cheer to her surroundings. She dotes on Hikari, her younger sister. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Waltrud Krupinski Rank: Flying Officer Affiliation: Empire of Karsland Original Unit: Karlsland Air Force, 52nd Aerial Battle Division, 7th Squadron Height: 175cm/5'6" Birthday: 11/11, 17 years old as of 1944, will turn 18 towards the end of 1944 Familiar: Weimaraner Special Magic: Magic Boost By releasing magic power, she achieves an incredible increase in speed. This causes considerable stress to her Striker Unit, so she can't carelessly use this ability. Craft: Messerscharf Bf 109G-6 Weapon: MP43 The center of focus in the 502nd, and a top class Witch amongst the Karlsland military. She has a great kill count. Krupinski acts mature in both behavior and manner for her age. She's thin and easygoing. She's a hedonist who is fond of alcohol and women. The other Witches often refer to her in jest as "The Countess". She frequently damages her Striker Unit in battle, and together with Nipa and Kanno, the three comprise the infamous "Break Witches". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nikka Edvardine Katajainen Rank: Flight Sergeant Affiliation: Suomus Original Unit: Suomus Air Force, 24th Aerial Battle Division, 3rd Squadron Height: 160cm/5'1" Birthday: 5/31, 15 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Snow Weasel Special Magic: Super Life Recovery Allows her to quickly recover from most injuries. She can not heal others with her gift. Craft: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Weapon: MG42 A top ace of Suomus, but she gets into unfortunate situations that cause her Striker Unit to break. She earned the name of "Unlucky Katajainen" as a result. She works hard and keeps looking to the future. She goes into battle for the sake of her home country. As a result of her character being so straightforward, she's easily zapped by practical jokes. Her nickname is "Nipa". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Gundulla Rall Rank: Squadron Leader Affiliation: Empire of Karsland Original Unit: Karlsland Air Force, 52nd Aerial Battle Division, 3rd Squadron Height: 169cm/5'5" Birthday: 3/10, 18 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Wolf Special Magic: Deviation Shooting In between the time it takes for her to shoot and for the shot to reach the target, she can predict how it'll move - and she'll be ready to shoot it again. Craft: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Weapon: MG42 Commander of the 502nd. She's quite candid and tends to command like an older sister. She's a realist, but she is gentle with her troops and respects their opinions. Her skill as a Witch is quite high, and is the third highest-scoring ace. During an attack on Karsland, her back was injured. She now wears an enchanted corset to support her back and allow her to move normally. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Aleksandra I. Pokryshkin Rank: Captain Affiliation: Empire of Orussia Original Unit: Orussian Army, Imperial Guard, 16th Fighter Aircraft Regiment Height: 158cm/5'1" Birthday: 3/6, 16 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Polar Bear Special Magic: Image Memorization When activated, this allows her to memorize and then recall information in perfect detail. Often used by Aleksandra to repair machines. Craft: MiG I-225 Weapon: DP28 The top ace of Orussia. Her Image Memorization magic makes her especially adept at equipment maintenance and strategy. Despite her young age, she has worked well as a Captain on the battlefield and works hard to deliver good results despite the considerable pressure. Adding to her stress is her frequent need to repair Naoe's, Nipa's, and Krupinski's Striker Units. Her nickname is Sasha. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Edytha Rossman Rank: Flight Sergeant Affiliation: Empire of Karsland Original Unit: Karlsland Air Force, 52nd Aerial Battle Division, 4th Squadron Height: 151cm/4'9" Birthday: 1/11, 19 years old as of 1944 Familiar: Fox Special Magic: Unknown Craft: Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 Weapon: Fliergerfaust Instructor for the 502nd. When she was very young she contracted a serious illness that stunted her growth. She's the oldest member of the 502nd, and is often referred to as "Sensei" by her charges. While she has an extensive military record, she looks forward to being surpassed by her students. She is a talented teacher but is scary once angered. Outside of her duties as a soldier she is a bit of a hedonist. She has stored a supply of her favorite foods but her circumstances do not allow her to have an extremely pleasurable life. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shimohara Sadako Rank: Ensign Affiliation: Empire of Fuso Original Unit: Fuso Imperial Navy, 24th Aerial Division, 288th Aerial Division Height: 160cm/5'1" Familiar: Fuso Rabbit Special Magic: Magically Enhanced Eyesight Craft: Miyabishi A6M Zero Weapon: Type 99-2 Model 2 Kai A Witch born in Fuso. She was trained by Major Sakamoto. She has a quiet and gentle nature. She can become friends with anyone. Shimohara went to a good school and received an extensive education. She's a great cook and works together in the kitchen with Georgette Lemare. Shimohara also loves to hold cute things. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Georgette Lemare Rank: Pilot Officer Affiliation: Republic of Gallia Original Unit: Gallian Air Force, 4th Regiment, First Combat Witch Division, 1st Aerial Division Height: 156cm/5' Familiar: Persian Cat Special Magic: Healing Magic Craft: VG.39bis Weapon: DP28 She has a tendency to hold back and avoid displaying her true ability. In battle she focuses on providing defense. She burns through calories when using magical energy and is often hungry, and has become good friends with Shimohara. She likes domestic arts and assisted her parents with their hospitality business, and her bed-making skill is first-rate. If something gets in the way, she can become quite angry, which is a surprise to people who only see her normal behavior. When she uses her Special Magic, her body generates a great amount of heat. Her nickname is "Jose". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Insert Illustrations

Notes: These illustrations discuss Nikka and Krupinski's military history, but it's not anything you couldn't find on the Strike Witches Wiki. To avoid duplication of effort, see their bios there.

Waltrud Krupinski: Good morning, Naoe-chan. Last night was fun. Kanno Naoe: Wh-!? What happened!? ___________________________________________________________________ CURRENT SITUATION ___________________________________________________________________ In the 1930s, humanity's natural enemy, the "Neuroi" suddenly appeared and attacked Oushuu. The ones who fought against the Neuroi were magical girls known as Witches.A group of Witches was called to Petersburg as part of a united air force to fight against the Neuroi. Carrying the hopes of humanity on their backs, these brave Witches head toward the frozen skies of Orussia. _______________________________________________________________________ CHAPTER ONE - THE THREE IN SCRAPS _______________________________________________________________________ OST: [01] Let's turn back the clock to 1939. Monstrous things appeared out of nowhere and took control of the ground - while a volley of attacks occured in Europe. Their goals and the reasons for their behavior remain unknown. What is known is wherever humans were, they'd attack - these creatures called ' Neuroi '. This was a continuation of their earlier attack on humanity that took place in 1914. The financial damage and losses caused by that attack were immense. This time humans were prepared. The troublesome Neuroi's surprise attacks and rapid advance exceeded humanity's expectations. The scales were tipped. The majority of Europe soon fell under their control. Between Europe and Asia lay the great empire of Orussia. This vast land had a suitable population, but as predicted, the Neuroi had superiority. The citizens of the western side were overrun, and the invaders made their way to the second capital city, Peterburg, which had been created by Emperor Piyotr. It was a place of much business and industry - and it was a key strategic point - and its loss would be devastating to Orussia. The half-crazed citizens began to evacuate by land and by sea as the military of Orussia took the brunt of the Neuroi attack, which countered their defense. Leading the charge against the Neuroi were young girls, carrying weapons in their hands. With her Striker Unit, a device which amplified her magic, she raced across the sky, destroying the Neuroi as she did so. These girls were Witches. They were able to fight back against the Neuroi, and were the only beings that could do so. In fact, it was thanks to their efforts that Peterburg was protected. Each nation's military, both to liberate Orussia and defeat the Neuroi, began to gather Witches and develop strategies. However, due to problems with the front supplies it became very difficult to carry them out. The Witches returned to the fierce battle. Afterward, humans began to develop a way to counter the Neuroi in Britannia. Peterburg became a place of secondary importance, and it appeared in the newspapers far less often. Even so, it wasn't like the humans had simply ceded the territory to their hated enemy. In order to reclaim the stolen lands from the grotesque creatures, humanity began to sharpen its collective claws. A grand counterattack strategy was formed, and the Witches soon began to gather once again at Peterburg. It was the start of winter in 1943 in Orussia's capital city, Peterburg. In frustration, Kanno Naoe kicked a metal grate, and the sound bounced around inside the basement. The grate was sturdy and didn't budge. While this was happening, the area outside was filled with the sound of bombing from above. If a person happened to be watching from a night boat, he'd jump to his feet. Kanno, who had just returned, gave the grate another kick.

"Hey. I know you're out there! Respond!" Kanno shouted. She did so not to peer out on whoever was there, but in the roaring fray perhaps a person who fleed from arrest was hiding inside, or perhaps a Witch who failed to show up for duty due to being dead drunk. "I can't believe you're trying to pull this now! Lemme outta here now!" Kanno roared. She was starting to get really mad, but carefully measured her kick to the iron grate to avoid injuring herself. "Tsk." She then turned and plunked herself down on a bed that leaned against the wall. "We finally made it to Peterburg, and I get stuck with detention detail." She lay down on her side and pulled her battered bomber jacket over her, using it as a makeshift blanket. The cell she was in had seen better days, and once belonged to the Peterburg police. Kanno was 14 years of age. and served as an excellent Witch inside the Fuso Imperial Navy. At 149cm (4'8"), one might say that she was rather small. Her gaze was cold and she often appeared on the scene with cuts and bruises. Her face was more like a boy's than a girl's, and she'd since left her native Fuso to continue the fight overseas. In fact, this small person had appeared in the news rather frequently. After the battle, plans were made to send her group back to Fuso, but then an order came for them to remain in Europe for at least a little bit longer. When they touched down in Peterburg, she became involved in a disturbance, hence her current predicament. Though the jail was large, only one person was in charge of it. Evacuees had flooded out of Peterburg during the disturbance, causing their population to plummet. Many buildings had been abandoned, and cars were requisitioned. That was the general state of things. Kanno lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as her breath formed clouds of fluffy vapor that floated in the air. The bed itself was hard, and about the length of an ottoman. She turned fitfully on the mattress, unable to fall asleep because they bed hurt her back. That was when she heard a grinding sound. At first she thought it might have been a trick of her imagination, but it was real.

The sound was coming from a wall to her left. It sounded like someone hitting an anvil. Should she call out? It'd be neglectful not to look. The sound continued, and Kanno began to lose patience. Finally, she could bear it no longer. [That's annoying! Whaddya want?] [Ah, you finally replied.] The speaker had a beautiful voice. Judging from its pitch, it belonged to a woman. The sound of it was very nice - and it was almost like the lovely voice of a seiyuu. There was no basis for this, but Kanno thought that the person probably was tall. [What is it?] asked Kanno. [I'm bored. Talk to me!] was the reply. [Like I care! I'm pretty upset!] answered Kanno. Her unseen questioner was undeterred by Kanno's brusque response. [Why are you in there?] she asked. [Leave me alone.] said Kanno. [Is it really okay?] inquired the girl. [I got into a fight. It happens often.] stated Kanno while she threw herself back onto the bed. She continued. [After my group came to Peterburg, one of the girls was featured in the news. She got angry and thrown in here, and is busy licking her wounds. Isn't that all right?] [So that was you.] observed her unseen questioner. [If we accept the fight started that way, many other people would become stuck in huge arguments. Who do you think started the fight? [Doesn't matter. Who're you?] asked Kanno. [Someone who got caught up in it.] That made Naoe pipe down. The person speaking to her was some kind of military policeman. But she seemed very humane. She hadn't even uttered any kind of blame towards Kanno. [My bad.] [No, it's all right. It's been a while since this kind of thing happened.] But it hadn't been the first time for Kanno to be put into a holding cell. Wasn't this the hard knock life? As if to show the conversation was over, Kanno sighed. She was ultimately the one who'd brought herself to this. She wasn't someone who could be together with ordinary soldiers. But how was the person she'd been talking to? [I get it. You're a Witch.] [That's right.] She calmly admitted the truth. [And under command of Fuso, right?] Kanno turned on the bed. [So you knew.] she replied. [It's already unusual from a cute girl in the Fuso Navy to end up in Europe, and you're fighting on the front lines. So yes, I knew.] [Who's the cute girl?] asked Naoe. [You!] The girl speaking to Naoe looked like she was having fun, and as if she was getting used to conversing with her. [Seems as if he rumors of the wolf of the Fuso Navy's Aerial Division are true.] [Tell me who said those rumors, so I can punch 'em.] was Kanno's reply. [They are true. I've heard that arm of yours is a first-rate weapon. You're a Witch that Fuso takes pride in.] As if disinterested in the words of praise, Kanno flopped back down on the bed. [Forget about it.] [So cold!] [No matter what Neuroi I obliterate, more keep coming. In the last operation, we weren't able to liberate Orussia because we had to backtrack. It's like my fist is useless.] observed Naoe. Her eyes were distant. She remembered how the hordes of enemies had revived in the skies over Orussia. The waves of raiding Neuroi, in shapes both large and small. The air was thick with those monstrous shapes. Witches and Neuroi clashed over and over with no side gaining an advantage. Naoe and her allies were losing composure under the assault, but they kept fighting to hold onto Peterburg. The other girl spoke. [Many of us wish on stars.] [Stars and hope both fall. I'm talking about what it's like to fly for things with no possibility.] [Wow!] [But you don't give up just based on that.] On the outside she looked like a respectable Witch, but on the inside she was a hard-worker with a sharp tongue. Naoe thought that was only natural. Humans would drive away Neuroi but on the individual level they might feel a sense of befuddlement. It was only natural to feel negative emotion towards them, but people who had lost their hometowns were especially bitter. Then she said with a deep voice, [It's a long war.] Her speaking partner responded. [I do have the right to complain to civilians. And the next time Neuroi show up, I'll shoot all of them down with no survivors.] Kanno clenched her fist. Since she graduated from the Fuso military school, Kanno took "Defeat the Neuroi!" as her personal motto. She was unwavering and uncompomising. Her morale remained high even during prolonged battles. [So who are you?] Kanno finally asked. [Krupinski. Waltrud Krupinski.] [Lots of commissioned officers.] [I'm classed as a Flying Officer.] stated Krupinski. [Oh. I'm an Ensign.] Witches and soldiers have ranks, but these girls didn't seem to worry about those as much. The amount of people who could use magic and fly in the sky was few indeed, and they recognized each other as allies. As a result, their conversations were largely frank and straightforward. Waltrud continued. [I was on the Eastern Front.] [I don't know the name of that.] commented Kanno. [Hmm. Well, I intended to act bravely and valiantly.] Waltrud's face betrayed a twinge of regret. [I was serving in the Karsland Air Force. I was in the Battle Aviation Unit. And I have no problem if you refer to me as Countess.] That last remark made Kanno give her a suspicious look. [A noble with that terrible of an accent? They'd have better enunciation and sharp pronunciation.] [Ah, you found out.] Waltrud looked a little embarrassed as her tongue stuck out. You could tell the kind of face she was making even without looking at it. She continued. [Everyone calls me that, but I'm not a member of the peerage. But you knew. You're actually an egghead.] [Is there a problem with that?] retorted Kanno. [Can I call you Naoe-chan?] [No, I refuse.] [Naoe-chan!] Waltrud seemed to not care what Naoe's response was. [I'd heard you'd returned to Fuso. So why did you come all the way out to Peterburg?] Naoe's response was short. [And why did you?] [I was called here. They need my power. It was a matter of my assignment being changed so I had no right to refuse.] [Same with me. I'd just returned to Fuso and was enjoying my leave, but then I was called back. By some Squadron Leader whose name I don't remember. What was it?] [Rall.] That last remark did not come from Waltrud. The voice came from the right of Waltrud. [Squadron Leader. Gundalla Rall. Ultra Ace and pride of Karlsland. With a kill count over 250. It was decided that a new unit would be formed, and so Waltrud and company were summoned.] Kanno was impressed. [250. Wow.] [And you are suprised?] [They must have needed a person with a lot of free time to count that up.] [ . . . ] That quieted down the voice, but in time it returned. [In any case, it was decided that a new unit would be stationed at the Peterburg base, and we will be the ones comprising that unit.] Naoe saw how things were shaping up. [So this person is your comrade.] [Nikka Edvardine Katajainen. AKA Nipa. Rank of Flight Sergeant.] [With a weird name like that, she'd be from Suomus.] [And she thinks people from Fuso are even stranger.] That remark came from Nipa. To Naoe, it sounded like it came from the left-hand side of the room. [W-why are you here?] asked Naoe. [I got caught up in the fight.] Although no one had blamed her for it, Naoe apologized. [I've heard of you. From the 24th squadron in the Suomus air force. You were with Wind-something Utelinen-something Magman-something and shot down Neuroi.] remarked Naoe. [You're well informed.] [I heard it on the radio.] Another voice on the left complained that Naoe didn't know her, but Kanno ignored that. [Anyway, long story short: a squadron leader called us.] summed up Kanno.

[I didn't think you'd get it unless you tried.] [I heard you. I'm here in solitary.] [And normally you'd need someone to vouch for you before you could be let out.] was the acerbic reply. [Are you disliked?] [Rather than us, it sounds to me like Naoe-chan is disliked.] commented Krupinski. [And why is that?] [Because you start a lot of fights.] [What was that!?] Naoe's fists were raised and trembling. [It's that attitude and behavior. How did you get here? And why did you get a court martial?] [In Fuso, what happened when you dealt with a superior officer you disliked? You took to the sky and blew away her tent. Or did I hear incorrectly?] [Ya heard wrong. I blew her away too!] bragged Naoe. Waltrud began laughing, but Nipa's voice betrayed her disgust. The laughter began to mix with the sound of footsteps. Someone was headed towards the jail. The conversation of the three girls stopped as they looked towards the door with iron bars. Behind them was another young woman, this one of small stature. And though she was not big, she was certainly larger than Naoe. Naoe nodded her head towards the new visitor while the door swung open from both sides. This was the first time Naoe had ever seen Waltrud Krupinski and Nipa. As she approached, Kanno noted that Waltrud was taller than this new visitor. She had boyish features. She was wearing a Karsland military uniform that had seen a lot of use. This did not tarnish her image, rather it seemed to give her a flashy appearance. She seemed a bit like a dandy. Her skin was pale and her hair was a brilliant gold color. She'd thrown a Suomus color sweater over her dress uniform. She'd had her coat of arms embroidered onto the sweater. You could tell at a glance that she took things more seriously than Waltrud. Their attention swung back to Kanno. Seeing one Fusojin surrounded by this variety of soldiers might attract your attention as well. Naoe turned her attention to the front. It was just her and the two other soldiers - but then one more visitor came in. She greeted the others with a wave as her golden hair moved in the breeze. Judging from her military uniform, one would assume she was a member of the Orussian force. This new lady regarded Naoe with a mysterious look. Kanno was sure they had never met, but she also thought they had indeed encountered each other somewhere before. The three regarded Kanno with folded arms. Finally one of them spoke and broke the awkward silence. [I came over to meet you from the Suomus Ski Station.] The Orussian girl's statement came without any prior self-introduction. [And I had too, because I was supposed to meet all of you.] The voice had a feeling of transparency, as if it was the fleeting call of birds. It was full of emotion. The other three had no time to stand transfixed and so instead remained tense.

[Even though I wanted, you didn't arrive. I wandered a bit and found a stray dog. I decided to feed him and pet him a little.] [That sounds like you, Sasha-chan. She's popular with dogs.] Waltrud's comment drew a stare from the girl called Sasha. It was clear that these two knew each other. [Just when I came back, I heard you three were confined. I rushed around and found the local MP, signed a lot of papers, bribed him with Liberion chocolate, and finally found the way here.]

She turned her attention on them one by one, and finally stopped in front of Kanno. [I was shocked to hear the reason why you ended up here. A brawl!? We have the Neuroi to fight, and you chose a Fusojin soldier to fight instead?] Sweat quietly formed on Kanno's back. Sasha was staring at her. [Anyway, you did well.] came the surprising observation from Sasha. Naoe, as you might expect, was agape. Sasha said that, and with a straight face. Sasha continued. [This is Orussia. It's enough to silence crying girls. It probably wasn't possible for you to quietly spend time with those knaves. I think I understand now how you handle troublesome soldiers.] [Well, now ...] Kanno's face twisted into an embarrassed grin whiel Sasha continued. [That being said, you need to stop. We have to defeat the Neuroi. We can't afford to fight our own allies. [Yes ma'am.] replied Naoe as she nodded her head in contrition. Why couldn't she seem to oppose this particular witch? Sasha's attention then turned to all three of the witches in custody. [All right, let's go.] As they left the solemn jail, the area around them became quite a bit noisier. The twinkling stars in the cloudless sky were easy to see because of the blackout in the city of Peterburg. Naoe took a moment to look at them. [Get in the car.] Naoe clamored to get into the car after being jolted back to attention by Sasha. The vehicle was a Liberion jeep, and Sasha had a firm grip on the steering wheel. Waltrud took the seat next to her, and Nipa joined Naoe in the back, which felt cramped. The jeep started and soon the jail began to shrink in the distance. [I guess I haven't introduced myself yet.] observed Sasha. Sasha kept her eyes on the road while she spoke. [My name is Aleksandra Ivanovna Pokryshkin. I hold the rank of Captain. Everyone calls me Sasha. No need to introduce yourselves. I already know who you all are.] She must have read their military history while en route to the jail. The jeep ride continued on out of the city. Winter was just getting started, and the jeep had no roof. Naoe felt her face begin to stiffen. Nipa seemed unconcerned. Naoe rubbed her cheeks and asked, [Where are we going?] [To the base.] answered Sasha. [Along the riverbank of Peterburg is a structure that serves as our military base. The base commander is Squadron Leader Rall.] [Not that I'm asking in detail, but what kind of unit is it?] inquired Naoe. [The 502nd Joint Fighter Wing.] Sasha's voice was cool and even. [That same 502nd in Peterburg that fights against the Neuroi.] Kanno could only mutter in ersponse. Waltrud clasped her hands together to fight the cold before speaking. [It's a collection of aces from different countries, gathered together to strengthen the war effort. The name sort of sounds like a tank unit.] [Quite so. Suomus's own independent flight unit was a test case and Britannia's 501st confirmed the effectiveness. Britannia's 501st has proven to be a valuable resource, and the higher-ups decided we need more units.] commented Sasha. [There's a 503 and a 504.] observed Kanno. [And the 506 is under consideration. It's probably only a matter of time.] [That reminds me, Eila was transferred to the 501st. ] commented Nipa. As they continued driving, streets gave way to cooblestone paths, and unrepaired sections dotted with potholes. Waltrud shivered as fluffy clouds of hot breath escaped from her. [Will there be any Witches other than us there?] inquired Waltrud. [Yes. And we're not there yet.] stated Sasha. Waltrud smiled while reminiscing. [There were lots of cute witches on the Western front. I wish we had more of those over here on the East. That's easier on the eyes.] [And the arrogance of the Karlslanders is well known on every front.] replied Sasha as the jeep's tire skidded on a loose stone. The area Liberion had landleased from Orussia was not great for night driving. Sasha upped the speed and the others held onto the sides of the jeep. The jeep continued on for a while. On the outskirts of the town, the snow hadn't been cleared away. As they passed by a streetlight, the vague outlines of the base gate gradually came into view. The road then continued on to a bridge to the island where the base was located. The area had clearly been made to connect with the mainland. As they passed through another gate, a series of good-looking buildings came into view. As they had reached the checkpoint, Sasha parked the jeep and showed her military ID to the base guard, who checked it, saluted, and then let them inside. They saw that the base's buildings were protected by thick walls around the perimeter. A runway jotted out of the central building and as it was quite dark, the hangar could not be perceived in the darkness. All of the buildings were old, and some structures like church spires were in place. Perhaps this had belonged to a church? It didn't feel the same as most military bases. [You're familiar with the 18th century fortress of Petro Bauno? That's what we are using.] explained Sasha as she parked the jeep. [The laird had this setup. This is a good use of it.] opined Krupinski. [This is amazing! With quarters like these, no one would ever get up on the wrong side of bed!] Naoe was clearly impressed. [I have to agree. Back on the Suomus front we were still living in tents.] commented Naoe [Yer still green. When I had to flee Demjansk I was sleeping in the trenches. And that was during winter. Winter!] complained Krupinski. Naoe, not wanting to simply take that, countered with [ Orussia's winters make Suomus look mild.] [There's nothing easy about winter.] spoke Waltrud. She continued: [I had to sleep under a tree and that was only two kilometers away from the warfront. Nothing to be done.] [Were your supplies cut off?] inquired Naoe. [The roads were covered in sludge and mud. That's how it was for two straight nights.] Naoe glanced around before yielding the argument to Waltrud. Sasha brushed dust and snow off the jeep. [Wrap up the boasting, you two.] she stated. The three girls followed Sasha into a building caked with a layer of white paint. The interior was large and had a cool temperature. The ceiling was tall, and naked bulbs hung from cords attached to it. The entire area looked old, as if it has gone unattended for at least a year, if not more. You could feel the age of the structure. Mortars sat in rows on the floor. The girls walked down a dim hallway. It was clear that restrictions on the use of the generators were still in effect. Sasha moved past the others and knocked on a door. [Excuse the interruption. As ordered, I've brought Kanno Naoe, Waltrud Krupinski, and Nikka Edvardine Katajainen.] Inside the room, another young woman was sitting at a desk. She looked up from behind a mountain of paperwork. [Thank you for coming. I'm commander of this base. My name is Gundala Rall.] Rall had a slim build and had hair the color of red tea. Her face glowed with vigor, and she had a calm resolve as she took in information. The other girls noticed that Rall was wearing a corset. Rall walked over to stand in front of the others. [I regret calling you in at this ghastly hour, but we want you to take your posts as soon as possible.]

[And by that, you mean us.] observed Naoe. Rall nodded in response to Kanno's statement. [Right now, in fact, yes.] said Rall. [I heard there were others.] stated Kanno. [They're in the middle of changing their posts, as ordered.] Rall explained. [It'd be good if we could take them with us.] added Sasha. [I wanted to arrange things that way, but I had someone that needed to pull an all-nighter at the police station. ] responded Rall. At that, Naoe, Waltrud, and Nipa looked at the ground. Nipa then raised her hand. [I have a question. Why are we being sent first?] [Your equipment and luggage will arrive tomorrow. Even if you have the Strikers, it'd be pointless to send you out with them now.] stated Rall. Nippa then asked another question. [Were we formally chosen for this?] Rall's answer was plain. [No. I just sent out requests to different bases. You're now in Orussia. In time you will experience the harshness of battle. If your resolve is not strong, you'll fail. That is the most essential thing for a Witch. I judged that you would be capable of these duties.] Nipa seemed hesitant [Will we be okay?] Rall's coolness remained. [I'm a veteran Witch. You will be adequate.] Was her line a lie or a joke? No, it was neither. Orussia's severe battle has been called the [Hot Pot of Witches]. Neuroi poured in from distant lands in considerable numbers. Supplies and additional personnel were in great demand and had been scattered across the land. They were like water sprinkled into a sandbox. Without reinforcements from Fuso and Liberion, Peterburg would have become known as a " a city in which humans once lived". This kind of battle is not unique to the Peterburg space, and is spreading into the Urals and Caucas areas. Orussia's a big place, and it is threatened by the Neuroi. Many different operations are being carried out. The fighting is fierce and the costs are high. If we succeed, Witches will be recognized officially as military soldiers.] Naoe, Waltrud, Nipa had all fought in Orussia before. And it followed that they would be reassigned to the 502. Without knowing it, they'd ended up here, and it was a shock. Rall spoke again. [The others will be gradually arriving. And, most likely, the Neuroi will be sending a hostile force to welcome them. In the meantime, you should get some sleep and prepare for tomorrow. ] Naoe clicked her mouth and then asked [ Do you have a place for us to sleep?] [That's already been prepared. It's an old building, but it'll be better than that air-raid shelter. Deal with it.] It seemed that Rall already knew her history. That disquieted Naoe and caused her to frown. With the briefing from Rall over with, they saluted and were then dismissed. Sasha guided them to their separate rooms. The following morning. Naoe rolled around lazily in the bed. The Witches had been assigned private rooms. This was because the base was so large that it had excess buildings. Some luxuries were allowed in recognition for the high rate of attrition that those on the front lines faced. Movement was frequent on the fierce battlefields. The situation was tense. From the bed, she could smell the dampness of trees. As she woke up, throwing off the effect of drowsiness, she moved beneath the three layers of blankets the girl used to fight off the intense cold. She drew the blankets closer to her neck. That was when she realized something. There was something or someone else in the room with her, rustling as it moved. And it was coming closer to Kanno Naoe. She paid it no heed? Was it a fox? She'd spent her youth in Fuso running through the fields. Though she'd been rampaging in Orussia, she wasn't worried - having an animal in the same room wasn't enough to make her worry. Maybe she'd start by washing her face and then go on to something else. Or bring the heater a little closer to the bed. Her hands quivered beneath her gloves. Yes, something else was in the room with her. What a brazen fox. That's when whatever it really was whispered to her. [It's morning, Naoe-chan.] That voice came from the side. She turned and saw to her surprise that Waltrud was sitting beside her. [Whuaaah!] exclaimed Naoe as she quickly jumped to wakefulness. [W-what happened!?] Kanno exclaimed.

[Last night was fun.] Waltrud spoke with drowsy-looking eyes. Naoe quickly checked her bedclothes to make sure everything was in place. Everything still was. She sighed in relief while also shouting in anger. [What the heck are you thinking!? Hey, you came in just a second ago, didn't you!?] [But your sleeping face was so cute, I couldn't help it.] Waltrud spoke without an ounce of fear. Kanno was so taken aback that her mouth dropped open. [Shut up. I thought my heart was going to stop.] said Naoe. [The part about morning is true though.] replied Waltrud. Naoe looked outside the window. It was still dark outside. She glanced at the wristwatch that she set beside her bed. In defiance of the cold, the long and short needles continued their revolution inside the watch face. After staring at the watch, Naoe commented: [It's not time for getting out of bed yet.] [I know. I picked a time when you'd still be sleeping.] Waltrud grinned. [You jerk! Get the heck out of here!] Naoe was losing her temper. [All right, fine. But anyway, our equipment has been delivered. Go to the hanger to pick yours up.] [You should have said that earlier!] Naoe hurried to get dressed and then rushed out of her room. She ran towards the hanger together with Waltrud Krupinski. The cold air of the dawn cut into both of them. Even so, Naoe felt exhilarated. The 502nd's base mostly consisted of older buildings that had been repurposed into parts of the base, and the hangar was the only modern structure. A runway had been built out of it and now stretched towards the Nebua river. They plunged into the center of the building. After tearing off the cover of a wooden crate, she began rummaging through its contents. Smack dab in the middle of the crate sat the important goods. You wouldn't tell from the outside of the box, but inside was a Striker unit and military-grade weapons. All of them sparkled in the light. They were brand new. Naoe tapped one with her hand. [Nice. I'm going to break this engine in.] Waltrud was taken aback. [Naoe-chan, what about breakfast?] asked the countess. [I'll get that later!] was Kanno's reply as she ran up the stairs. [Hurry up!] she said to the maintenance staff. The shutter at her feet opened with the sound of machinery. Naoe was feverish with excitement. The Striker Unit was a dark green and had been constructed by Miyabi Heavy Industries. A Zero Fighter in the 22 series for her legs. A favorite type for flying about in Orussia. It was facing her, like it wanted to be ridden by its master. She opened the box on the right side of the unit. Inside was a Type 99 Mark 2 Automatic Rifle. Naoe equipped the Striker Unit. A change in sensation slowly spread from her heart, and continued across her body. An additional pair of ears appeared on top of her head, and she manifested a tail. That was proof as a Witch that she was controlling magical energy. She started the magical engine. The energy she was emitting was reshaped into propellers which then began turning rapidly. A magic circle appeared beneath the device. [I'm gonna take off!] she said. Naoe picked up the machine gun and held onto it. Waltrud picked up a megaphone and brought it up to her mouth. [NAOE-CHAN! ARE YOU TAKING A WEAPON WITH YOU?] the countess shouted. [IT WON'T COUNT AS BREAKING IN THE ENGINE IF I DON'T!] Kanno yelled back. Both of them had to shout to be heard over the noise of the engine. Naoe opened the throttle on the engine. The propeller rotation speed increased, and Naoe glided forward. Continuing down the runway, she built up enough speed to take off. [Kanno is the first to launch!] She quickly flew up and away from the runway. From the sky, she could see the true state of the 502nd base. Built on an island at the mouth of the Neva river, , with the majority of its space occupied by buildings and the runway system. The exterior of the fortress was unmanned. After finishing a lap in the sky around the base, Naoe flew higher. The effects of winter outside were quite noticeable, and the higher you rose into the air, the colder you felt, but right now Naoe was feeling pleasant. Being in the sky felt better than being on the surface. The weather changed and the sky became clearer. Naoe focused her attention to the east. The city of Peterburg was in sight, as well as piles of rubble from Neuroi attacks. The place had been attacked by the Neuroi and destroyed. The citizens had mostly been evacuated out of the area, so it had remained unrepaired and made for unpleasant viewing. This was the case not only with Peterburg but for many places all around Europe. Unconsciously, Kanno balled her hand into a fist. This was in the direction of Moscow. Snow piled up on the many thick conifer trees which stretched out in lines into the distance. Roads and rail lines from Peterburg should have stretched out, but these were buried beneath layers of snow. It was ironic. Under the domination of the Neuroi, human innovation had ceased, but plants and animals were flourishing. She could not sense the Neuroi but they were there. Going from Peterburg in the direction of Moscow, and in the Urals, and in other places, the Neuroi were certainly there. Then a voice called up to her from below. [Hey.] Waltrud rose up, having equipped a Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6. It had been repaired and mended often, and a No. 5 had been vividly painted in yellow on the side. Kanno's face took on a look of plain disgust. [Why are you here?] [Thought I'd break in this engine.] around Kanno's periphery. [Isn't it dangerous for a cute girl to be flying around in the sky alone?]the countess asked. [I'm fine on my own.]was Kanno's answer. [Nipa-kun's coming here too.] A look down revealed that Nipa had taken off and was rising into the sky. Her Striker Unit had been built by Messerschmitt and was a Bf 109 G-2, an older model than Waltrud's. Karsland had supplied the machine. Nipa flapped her arms. [You both came out here early to fly around. Were you not tired?] Nipa asked. [Are you trying to find fault with others?]was Kanno's question in response. [I sleep when I'm tired.][It seems that Kanno has a visitor.] commented Nipa. In response to Nipa's comment, Kanno's face twisted into a doubtful expression. [Here? At dawn, on the front lines? It's probably another member of the squad.] [You look like a civilian.] was Kanno's assessment. [You could have waited!] Kanno increased the rotation speed of her engine and flew towards the south. The collar of her flight uniform began to flap in the wind. Nipa and Watrud flew behind her. Kanno Naoe was not hiding her bad mood. [Don't follow me!] Waltrud was calmer. [It's dangerous to go that way. You're heading into the Neuroi sphere of influence.] Waltrud spoke truly. The Western part of the Orussian empire was pretty much under complete control of the Neuroi. It was all humanity could do to retain the Peterburg area. Setting aside the area in the direction of Karelskaya, all the arial defense could do was get some glimpses in the direction of Moscow. Kanno shot a glance at Waltrud. [Just flying around in the same area and then landing is boring!][I'll come along.]said Waltrud. [And me too!] piped up Nipa. [I told you not to come!]was Kanno's answer. Kanno might say that, but this is not something Waltrud could casually declare. Nipa was the same way. The three lined up and flew out together. The urban area retreated into the distance, and withered grass was buried beneath layers of snow. They had reached the forest region. This area had been touched by human hands before. Though it was now uninhabited. As the group continued on their journey, wreckage of armored vehicles periodically came into and went from view. These were a stationary remembrance of the fierce fighting on the front lines of Peterburg. Kanno turned her attention from the ground towards the horizon. Cloud cover was light. Visibility was good. [Oh?]Frontwards, towards the left, black dots came into view. These dots increased in size, and revealed themselves to have the shapes of giant birds. [It's the Neuroi!] stated Nipa. These were medium grade Neuroi according to the classification system. From the side, they looked like black birds, but they had aspects that reminded one of tailless aircraft, and scarlet sections of the body called to mind the compound eyes of insects. The Neuroi were now on course to meet the Witches and were drawing ever closer. [Are they doing reconnaisance?] [Doesn't matter. Let's attack!] Naoe declared with a shout, but Nipa was taken aback. [Is it Kanso?] [Yes. And I'll be the one to get it!] Naoe increased the rotation of her magic engine. With a terrible sound, she accelerated her speed. Her body keenly felt the chill of the Orussian wind, and the hot air blasted out from the magic engine of her Striker Unit formed warm clouds in the air. She readied her Type-99 and took aim at the enemy. The gun released a high pitch scream while it vomited ammunition at the target, and the ammo casings released from the gun traced elegant patterns in the air.