Strike Witches: The Wandering Ace

Chapter 5: Clash with the Past

The roar of Striker Units filled the sky as the 501st Joint Fighter Wing soared through the air in a tight formation. Minna, their commander, led the way, her voice steady and commanding over the radio as she briefed the Witches on their mission.

"Our objective is to support a ground attack and break through Neuroi-occupied territory," Minna explained. "Stay focused and work together. We can do this."

As they approached the area of operation, the formation of Witches split off into smaller groups, each tasked with specific targets. Sarah, was paired up with Minna, their Striker Units working in perfect harmony as they tore through the Neuroi defenses.

For a brief moment, Sarah felt a sense of freedom she hadn't experienced in a long time. The wind rushed past her, and the adrenaline of battle surged through her veins. In that moment, her past seemed distant, and she was fully immersed in the present.

Their coordinated attacks were proving successful. The Neuroi forces were being pushed back, creating an opening for the ground troops to advance. Sarah couldn't help but feel a surge of pride at their teamwork.

"Minna, this is going better than expected," Sarah remarked over the radio. "We're making good progress."

Minna's voice came back, filled with determination. "Keep it up, Cipher. We can't let up now."

As the battle raged on, Sarah contacted the other members of the 501st, checking on their status. "Sanya, Eila, Perrine, how's it going out there? Report in."

The responses came in one by one, a chorus of voices over the radio, each indicating that their mission was proceeding as planned. The 501st was working like a well-oiled machine, their unity and cooperation shining through in the heat of battle.

But as the battle continued, the tides of war were unpredictable, and the past had a way of catching up with them when they least expected it.

The battle had been going well. The Neuroi forces were retreating, and the ground troops were making their advance when suddenly chaos erupted below. Smoke billowed into the air, obscuring the battlefield, and the sound of gunfire echoed through the skies.

As the smoke began to clear, a large jet soared through the battlefield, its guns blazing with a terrifying ferocity. Sarah caught a glimpse of the aircraft, and a shiver ran down her spine. The sight of it triggered memories she had tried to bury deep within her.

Mio, flying nearby, noticed the emblem on the jet's tail, a striking resemblance to Sarah's iconic red dog. Her eyes widened with recognition as she realized the significance of what they were facing.

And then, a voice crackled over their radio frequency, a voice that sent shockwaves of disbelief through the 501st. "Yo Buddy. Still Alive?"

Sarah's heart pounded in her chest as she recognized the voice, a voice she thought she had left behind in her past life. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.

Minna, equally stunned, called out to Sarah, "Sarah, what's going on? Who is that?"

Sarah struggled to find her voice, her mind racing as the memories of her past as a mercenary pilot flooded back. She finally managed to reply, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and uncertainty. "It's... it's an old comrade from Strangereal. Someone I thought was long gone."

The mysterious jet continued its assault, its firepower devastating the ground forces and threatening to turn the tide of battle. The 501st was faced with a new and unexpected enemy, one with a connection to Sarah's past that threatened to unravel the fragile peace she had found in the world of the Strike Witches.