Disclaimer: The Strike Witches series is fully owned by Shimada Humikane, Noboru Yamaguchi and Gonzo Animation Studios while the non Strike Witches elements are fully owned by me
Authors Note: I've been watching Strike Witches for quite awhile and also after reading several fanfic in the Strike Witches section. I guess I tried my hand on writing a fanfic of this series, please note that there might be grammatical error because English is my second language so let's get on with the story.
Prologue: Arriving in the Past
Date: July 21st 2015
Location: Somewhere on the North Sea
It was fairly cold foggy day to start on the calm cold waters of the North Sea but that will all changed as a large fleet appeared on the horizon. July the 21st has been designated as a date of an annual Joint Naval Exercise between United States of America, North Atlantic Treaty Organization or famously called NATO, Japan which has been invited by the Americans and surprisingly Russian Federation which was thought impossible during the height of the Cold War due to the relations between the superpowers. This was done to improve the relations between each country after the Second Korean War.
Leading the fleet is the United State Navy lead by it's one of the famous capital ships of all times, the Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Alongside the US Navy is the Russian Navy with their only Carrier in active service, the Admiral Kuznetsov-class Aircraft Carrier with her escorts. Representative from NATO is consists of British, Italian, French and German navy with its flagship the Invincible-class Aircraft Carrier HMS Illustrious. The US Navy also invites the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force to participate in the naval practice with the Europeans.
USS Dwight D. Eisenhower observation deck
On board the Nimitz-class Aircraft Carrier observation deck, a man with the rank of Admiral watches the activities of the Dwight. D Eisenhowercrews while holding a cup of coffee when he is approach by a Petty Officer.
"Morning Admiral Robertson, you are needed at the bridge right now sir." the Petty Officer informed as the Admiral now named Robertson looked at the officer and smiled.
"Thank you Petty Officer, lead the way." said Admiral Robertson as the two began to walk back to bridge. Admiral Frederick Robertson is a 37 year old admiral with a good combat record and avid fan of military history. He earned the command of this particular Aircraft Carrier after involved in the Second Korean War as a captain of a frigate.
As he arrived at the bridge the crew saluted at Admiral Robertson and continued to do their work as the Admiral sat on his command seat. He's then informed by one of the crew member that they received a call from a certain Russian Admiral which their fleet and the Japanese's rendezvous with the American fleet several weeks before.
"Good morning Admiral Petrovkin, how's your morning?" Robertson said as he picked up the call.
(Comms)[Better Admiral Robertson, I just wondered when we going to rendezvous with those NATO folks?] A heavy Russian accented English echoes through Robertson's phone.
"Soon Admiral. We are scheduled to rendezvous with them today. After that,we can begin our exercise by tomorrow after we docked at Portsmouth." Robertson said while looking at a F/A-18E Super Hornet make a landing run on Eisenhower's deck.
(Comms)[Very well Robertson. Once we docked at Portsmouth, please treat me to the bar yes?]
Robertson chuckles before replied, "Will do comrade" and ended his communication with the Russian Admiral. Then he looks at his communications officer and asks, "What is the status of the Japanese?"
"They said they're fine and they also greet us good morning in Japanese too sir." The comms officer spoke.
Robertson chuckles and said, "Alright, say hello to those guys too okay." he said to the communications officer before he continued, "Gentlemen, I need a status on the NATO fleets as soon as possible."
Several Hours Later,
"We are entering the English Channel sir. The NATO fleets are now gathered at the RV point Admiral." The Helmsman of the Eisenhower reported as the fleet arrived at their designated rendezvous point.
"Good, get me in contact with the NATO fleet." Robertson ordered. After few minutes establishing contact with the NATO fleet, they finally acquired transmission from the commander of the NATO fleet.
(Comms)[This is Admiral Albert Wellesley, head of the NATO fleet. We're on rendezvous point and awaiting your arrival.] Said the British Admiral as they arrived from Clyde Naval Base whiles the Italians, Germans and the French arrives from French Naval Base at Brest
"Acknowledge Admiral. We're approaching RV point. Once we regrouped, we will dock in Portsmouth for briefing and rest before the exercise games begins." Robertson replied.
After the NATO admiral acknowledges back, Robertson finally sat on his chair and decided to ask one of the bridge captain, "Well, give me a report on the participating nations and tell me if there's any changes sent by FLTFORCOM."
The captain saluted and gave him a list of the participants on a piece of paper, "Sir, here's the list. So far we have Russians, Japanese, The British, Germans, Italians and the French. There's no change of plans for the exercise games from FLTFORCOM so it's going on schedule."
Robertson looks at the paper as he heard the captain's explanation then said to him, "Thank you captain. Helmsman!" He then looked to the helmsman, "Bring us to Portsmouth at full speed."
"Aye aye Admiral!" the Helmsman replied as the NATO fleet fall into formation alongside Japanese and Russian fleet. Things are go usually as planned. Little did they know, they're going to have a fight of their lives.
Alternate World,
Date: July 21st 1944
Location: 501st JFW Base, Dover, Britannia
Ever since the Neuroi started to appear in the early 1930's, Humanity began a struggling fight for survival against the Alien race but with the Neuroi managed to take away a large chunk of Mainland Asia and Liberion proves too much for humanity to fight against the aliens but Humanity has still one last hope, the Witches which proves to be a lethal adversary against the Neuroi and with the introduction of new revolutionary war machine named the Striker Unit thanks to Dr. Ichiro Miyafuji, Humanity have the means to fight back the Neuroi. It's now the year 1944 and the focused shifted to a particular base on Dover which housed a particular but famous Witches Squadron of the War, the 501st Joint Fighter Wing a.k.a the Strike Witches, a group of multinationalWitches from different Air Force organization around the world gathers to make an effective squadron to combat the ever growing Neuroi threat. The 501st is tasked to defend Britannian Isle from the Neuroi but on that particular morning over the 501st base, four witches are running across the beaches as a part of morning exercises by one of their Squadron Leader, Sakamoto Mio who's herself among the 4 witches on the morning jog.
"Alright you ladies! You all need to toughen up! The war ain't gonna win by itself you know!" Mio shouted at the three young witches named Yoshika Miyafuji, Lynette Bishop and Perrine Clostermann. Coincidentally, Yoshika Miyafuji is the daughter of Dr. Ichiro Miyafuji, the creator of the Striker Unit.
"B-But Sakamoto-san!" Yoshika gasping as she struggles to talk to Mio, "G-Give us a m-moment to r-rest please?"
Mio just laughed and told the rest, "Not until you guys finish 2 more laps! Now get going!"
Knowing that Mio won't take no for an answer, the witches continues their jogs for two more laps. Meanwhile at the base particularly the office of Wing Commander Minna-Dietlinde Wilcke, Minna is busy with some desk work as usual until a man wearing a Fuso Navy uniform arrives at the Wing Commander's office, bringing a telegram with him.
"Good morning Wing Commander Minna. How's your day?" The Fuso Navy personnel with the rank of Ensign greeted as he enters her office.
"As always Ensign Hige, too much paperworks for me to do. So what brings you here?" Minna said as she writes the last of the paper's and looked at Ensign Hige.
The Fuso Ensign then handed her the telegram while saying, "These just came in this morning." Minna proceeds to read the content and finally put down the telegram paper. The telegram stated that a fleet of supply ships needed aerial escorts from the witches to protect them as they entered the English Channel from the Atlantic Sea route.
"So the 2nd Convoy Flotilla needs some escorts huh? Send a reply, [we will provide some witches to escort the fleet] and tell the rest of the girls to meet me at the Briefing Room." Minna ordered which the Ensign comply.
She looked outside the windows and noticed the weather is changing, "its cloudy today…I just hope it didn't get worse today."
Later Over the English Channel Airspace,
Over the skies of the English Channel which separates Britannia and Gallia, the 501st Witches are sent on an escort mission, protecting a supply fleet coming from the Atlantic from Neuroi incursions. Among the witches that participated are Flight Lieutenant Gertrude Barkhorn and Flying Officer Erica Hartmann from Karlsland, Pilot Officer Eila Juutilainen of Suomus and the Fuso Squadron Leader Sakamoto Mio. The rest of the Witches are ordered on standby if things go south.
"I can't believe they wanted us to escort them in this kind of weather." Gertrude complaints as she and the rest of her flight linked up with the convoy fleet while the weather around them are heavily clouded.
"It's unnatural though we get weather like this…especially in this month." Erica comments as she watches the sky around them for any signs of Neuroi.
"Well the soon we finish this mission the better. Sanya is waiting for me you know." Eila said to the two Karlsland witches while thinking about Sanya.
Mio ignored the conversation and decided to talk with the lead escort destroyer which escorted the supply ship, "This Sakamoto Mio of the 501st, how it's going down there?"
Then a reply came from one of the destroyer escort,
(Radio) [This is Captain Sanchez of the Liberion Destroyer USS Sims, everything seems fine. We're expe-Wait a second ma'am.]
There is a pause before he talks to Mio again
(Radio) [Ma'am, we've detected a hostile Neuroi north of our position!]
Before Mio could reply, there's a transmission coming from the 501st base
(Radio) [This is Minna, our radar detected several hostile Neuroi's approaching your position. I've sent Lynnette, Yoshika and Perrine to assist you.]
"Acknowledge Minna, we're moving to engage." Mio replied before turning to the three other witches with her, "Alright we got a Neuroi coming for the convoy. Separate into two teams, Eila you with me."
The rest acknowledge her orders and began to fly in pairs and prepare to engage the Neuroi. Little did they know that there are surprises coming in for them.
Alternate World,
Date: July 21st 2015
Location: The English Channel
After rendezvous with the NATO fleet, the joint fleet is on their way to the British Naval Base at Portsmouth when Admiral Robertson received information from the nearby weather stations in Britain.
"Sir, we just got word from the weather station in Odiham sir." One of the bridge crew informed.
Robertson then said, "Alright, tell me what they said."
"Uh…their weather station picked up an unusual disturbance and high magnetic readings across the English Channel sir. It is nothing they had seen or ever heard of." The bridge crewman informed.
Before Robertson managed to say anything, alarms from various consoles and electronic equipment suddenly blared to life, causing the rest of the carrier crew became cautious.
"What the hell is going on!?" Robertson exclaimed as the bridge crew desperately trying to handle the situation.
The communication officer on the bridge then informed Robertson, "Sir, we just got transmission from the rest of the fleet. They have the same problem as ours Admiral."
Upon hearing this, Robertson then ordered, "I want this problem sorted out and tell the rest of the fleet to stick together until we manage to arrive at Portsmouth. I want the planes strapped tightly inside the hangars and order any remaining deck crews to get inside A.S.A.P"
As soon as he finishes his orders, something weird has happened. The sea became violent and thunder roars above the sky over the English Channel, the sky become dark and the fleet is suddenly engulfed in a violent bubble like vortex which causes the fleet computers to go offline.
"W-What in Jesus name is happening!?" It's the only word Admiral Frederick Robertson able to say before him and the rest of the crew's vision gone black.
A Couple of Hours Later,
Silence blanketed the joint fleet after what seems to be the worst and weirdest storm ever to hit the English Channel which causes the whole fleet's personnel unconscious. But inside the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Admiral Frederick Robinson and his crew began to awake after being knocked out for awhile.
"A-Agh…I feel like shit. Is everyone alright?" Robertson asks his crews after seeing them standing up while some sit down in pain.
Seems satisfied as the bridge crew regain their consciousness, he immediately ordered one of the crew, "You, go and check the status on the flight crew and the rest." The crewman saluted and heads out from the bridge to check the rest of the Dwight D. Eisenhowercrew.
"S-Sir, we got communications from the Russian, Japanese and the NATO fleet sir. They informed that all of the crew has waked up and all ships are accounted for." The communication officer informed the Admiral.
Robertson then said, "Any idea where we are?"
One of the crew members, a navigation officer answered, "We are still technically ON the English Channel."
"I see. Comms, I need you to contact the FLTFORCOM about what happened just now." Robertson ordered his communications officer but then he noticed the frowned looked on the officer's face.
"Sir, we cannot contact the FLTFORCOM for now." The Communication officer said. But he continues, "But we managed to acquire transmission which is interesting."
Robertson gave a questioned look before he said, "interesting?"
The Communication Officer didn't answer; instead he played the transmission for him
to hear,
(Radio) [*Static* T-To any allied ships in the-*Static* -rea. This is Captain Sanchez of *Static* Liberion Navy USS Sims. *Static* -We're under attacked by a Neuroi-*Static*. Request any assis-*Static*]
As the transmission ends, Robertson received a call from Eisenhower'sCIC which he answered, "This is Admiral Robertson."
(Comms)[Sir, our radar just back online and we picked up several contacts south of our position but we didn't sure ourselves]
That statement from the CIC officers caused Robertson to asks, "What is that you unsure of?"
(Comms)[Some of the contacts we picked up have the signature of the Sims-classDestroyer sir]
"A WHAT!?" Robertson could not believe what he hears; the Sims-classDestroyer is an old World War 2 Destroyer and should have been put out of service by the end of the war. Robertson managed to compose himself and replied, "Thank you for the information." He then put the phone down and rubs his forehead.
"Sir?" one of the bridge crew asks.
Robertson decides, "Order the rest of the fleet to the south. I want to see what is actually going around here."
Sometime Later,
After cruising through the southern ends of the English Channel; the fleet finally arrived to see a small fleet under attack by a black object above them.
"Sir, you gotta see this sir." One of the observation deck crew said as he watches the whole event unfold.
Robertson then brings out his own binocular and sees a World War 2 era Convoy ships being attacked by an air group of black flying object which resembles a modern stealth bomber and several smaller planes like object which shoots red lasers, something he didn't see every day.
Then there is one thing caught on his eyes, through the binocular he saw what seems to be several girls in World War 2 era uniforms wielding a World War 2 era weapons with their whole legs is encased in a machine that resembles World War 2 era planes and managed caught a sight of one of them uses a magic circle as a shield to deflect the incoming lasers as he thought.
Witnessing all that, he managed to pick up a phone and contacted the Russian Admiral while staring at the battle, "Petrovkin, do you see what I'm seeing?"
A response with tone of disbelief is heard from the Russian,
(Comms)[If seeing some teenage girls fighting against the black flying object that shoot lasers at what seems to be a Great Patriotic War era warships…I say yes]
After that, the only words can describe the whole situation by Admiral Frederick Robertson of the US Navy is, "What in Jesus name did we get ourselves into…"
(End of Prologue)
Well so much for the epilogue, please read and review this story. Any questions or inquiries please PM me and NO flaming. Thank you. – Fuji92