>>42309998
[2/2]

She laughs, slapping your forehead. OW OW OW FUCK YOU LITTLE AAAGGGHH- “Ha! You crack me up!” She stands up, thankfully letting your chest get a load off from her legs. “But listen, I came here to tell you that you actually need to report to Colonel Hess at her office in like… ten minutes?” What. “Sounded urgent so… if I were you I’d get cracking, Kiddo.” She pats your head again, giggling. “By the way, I know how that hangover feels, so don’t think I ain’t too evil on ya!” She skips out the door, whistling.

Fuck. Ten minutes. You could do a lot in ten minutes! You grab a mirror off your shelf and look at yourself.

You immediately regret looking at yourself. Okay. Ten minutes. You look down at your blanket. Your uniform is on, thank the Lord, but… fuck, you always gave Grease Monkey shit for the times he showed up and his uniform was wrinkled or dirty. This was just inexcusable!

Damn it, damn it, what to do what to do!?

> Rush out the door, better to be early and ugly than to be late and less ugly.
> Put your face on… for what it’s worth.
> Get a clean uniform on. You can barely see, but a clean uniform is better than no uniform! ... you hope.
> Other

>>42310008
> Put your face on… for what it’s worth.

>>42310008
> Get a clean uniform on. You can barely see, but a clean uniform is better than no uniform! ... you hope.

>>42310008
> Rush out the door, better to be early and ugly than to be late and less ugly.
Whatever we attempt with this level of hangover we will screw up. Thus we should do as little as possible.

>>42310008
>> Get a clean uniform on. You can barely see, but a clean uniform is better than no uniform! ... you hope.

> SINCE THERE’S NO TIEBREAKER I GUESS WE’LL HAVE TO TRY EVERYTHING

You grab your makeup kit on the end table, and then roll off the bed, banging your shoulder and yelling.

“Ah, shut up, Kid!” yells Thorn. “It’s too early!”

“I gotta get up!” you cry as you quickly powder your face and tear off your wrinkly shirt and coat. You grab a new one from somewhere and start putting it on. “I’ll be right back! Okay!? I gotta go see the Colonel!” You run for the door, only to smash right into the hangar wall next to it. Ow.

Okay, at least things are much clearer now. You stumble back up and hurry out the door.

-

-

Colonel Hessler and Captain Kelly look at you as if a clown had just walked in. That clown was you. Hessler at least was not happy, but Captain Kelly at least was bemused by the huge smear of lipstick and the hastily powdered nose that made it look like you snorted something fierce. At least you got here on time. Colonel Hessler sits behind her desk, with Captain Kelly on a chair in front of here. “Sergeant. Go ahead and take a seat.” You nod, pulling up a chair and sitting down. “I see that my wanting you to be here must have startled you.”

You nod slowly. “A little bit,” you croak. You cough, clearing your throat of some phlegm and… something else.

“Right.” She scoots her typewriter over and begins typing up a report. “I am currently writing up the report that will be sent to command regarding the mustering of the 130th JCT. For now, Thornycroft will be your assigned XO, owing to her experience in the field. If you want to know anything, ask her. As for the rest, they will be yours to deal with. But the bigger thing in regards to the unit composition is that the 130th JCT will be nominally under Captain Kelly’s direct command.” You look over to her, and she simply nods, chewing on the end of her pipe. “Do you understand?”

[1/3]

>>42311031
[2/3]

You nod. “Yes, ma’am,” you whisper loudly.

Colonel Hessler and Captain Kelly glance at each other, then back at you. “Sergeant. Let me make something very clear. Yes, it is a very momentous occasion that you are now a non-commissioned officer in the 1st Joint Armored Corps. And I understand that it must be quite the joyous occasion that you have finally earned your place on the frontline. But we are a military institution here. We are not the 501st, we are not a unit of civilian volunteers or a rabble of militia. This is a disciplined army. And I treat it as one.”

You nod again. Speaking hurts so much. “Yes, ma’am.”

“So you understand, good. I will overlook this… predicament for now, but please be aware that if you drink alcohol on the base, there will be more consequences than I can offer,” she says rather ominously.

…

Oh shit.

“Do not be come into my office like this again,” she hisses. “Dismissed.” Captain Kelly and yourself stand up, salute, and then make a hasty retreat to the door.

After shutting it, Captain Kelly has a few choice words for you. “Drinking, eh?” You nod, guilty. “Don’t worry, sweetie.” She pats your head, gently, unlike Burnie. “The Colonel can be quite scary, but she is right. This is the military. We can’t tolerate drunkards. However, I feel the hangover and the tongue-lashing that the Colonel gave you is punishment enough so like her I will overlook it.” She pats you on the arm, smirking a little. “And perhaps other offences if you can find me that wine you were drinking. Smelled exquisite.”

You groan, rubbing your head. “I just want today to be over…”

“Well, too bad, because I have an assignment for you.” Damn it. Captain Kelly reaches into her breast pocket, and pulls out a letter to you. “You are to start training your witches to work as a cohesive unit. By week’s end, we are expecting at the very least, a unit that can coordinate assaults in two-men fireteams led by you.”

>>42311051
[3/3]

Ugh, great. “What about the Neuroi?”

“My responsibility. We are being deployed unfortunately later today to deeper territory. Which means I will not be around to guide you.” She pokes her finger on your heart. “It’s up to you now, good Sergeant. So make the most of it, yes?” You nod, pouting a little. “Aw, chin up. We’re all nervous the first time we’re assigned command. I’d be worried if you weren’t. Dismissed.” She salutes you, and you her, then she walks away.

Training, hm?

Where to start though…

> Get everyone together, start bouncing ideas off of one another.
> Nah, you don’t need them! You just need some solid Liberion thinking! And probably a lot of nails and wood.
> You can figure out the training later, you need a shower.
> Other

>>42311072
> Get everyone together, start bouncing ideas off of one another.
Bounce bounce~

>>42311072
> Get everyone together, start bouncing ideas off of one another.

>>42311072
> You can figure out the training later, you need a shower.

>>42311072
>Get everyone together, start bouncing ideas off of one another.

>>42311072
>> Nah, you don’t need them! You just need some solid Liberion thinking! And probably a lot of nails and wood.

> Get everyone together, start bouncing ideas off of one another.

-

-

After wiping your make up off in the snow and getting your hair much better dressed, you head back to the hangar to find everyone recovering from their hangovers in their own little ways. Greta with push ups with Rascal sleeping on her back, Thorn by brewing up some coffee, and Aurelia by just lying back on the bed with a rag over her face. Great. “Everyone!” you call. They all look over at you. “I got some news. We have to start training, and if we aren’t ready by the end of the week, we’ll be-“

Greta stops her push ups. “Why are you wearing my uniform?” What? You look down and sure enough, you’re not in Liberion Army dress, you’re wearing Greta’s Karlslander uniform. Ah hell, did they really keep quiet about this!? She grins, giggling. “I know you want to be very much like me, Child! And who can blame you! I suppose you can keep it!”

“I don’t want to be like you!” you scream. You nearly tear off the jacket and throw it at her, only for it to land on Rascal resting on her back.

“Agh! What the hell!?” Rascal wakes up, holding the jacket. “Hey, I already have one of these.”

“Look.” You get onto your bed, drawing their attention for real this time. “We gotta start training. Now… this ain’t my area of expertise, so I came to you guys to figure out some ideas on how to train, how to… prepare ourselves for the coming fight against the Neuroi!” You smile, placing your hands on your hips. “So. Anyone got any ideas?”

…

Thorn raises her hand. “We’re witches, why do we need to train?”

“Because if we don’t, Colonel Hessler is going to kill me!” you shout. “And if she kills me, she’ll kill you! And then she’ll kill you too, Greta!”

Greta rolls her eyes. “She’d never kill me! She’s too weak!”

[1/2]

>>42312122
[2/2]

Everyone quickly looks around, fearing Colonel Hessler was around to hear that. Even Greta seemed to bite her tongue at saying that. Since Colonel Hessler did not appear to hear it, everyone goes back to normal.

“Right. We do need to train. Anyone got suggestions?”

Aurelia raises her hand, rag still over her face. “How about we just get some target practice in? All Neuroi fighting is learning to shoot, isn’t it?” she mumbles. She turns over on her bed, groaning. That could work.

“Pansy!” Greta screams. “Marksmanship isn’t so easily taught! I say we exercise!” She does another push up, Rascal near falling off of her back. “I will drive you into the ground with how strong I am!”

“You’re not that strong,” you say.

“Oh yeah!” She stands up, throwing Rascal off. Rascal proceeds to crawl under the bed, hissing and growling at the light. Greta walks over to you, rolling up her sleeve and presenting her somewhat muscular bicep. “Feel my muscles!”

You grip her bicep.

…

She grabs her arm, clearly in pain at your grip. “… please let go,” she whines.

You let go, and she hisses in pain, gripping her somewhat crushed bicep. “Right, target practice, exercise, and we also need to learn coordination. So…”

> Grab the Strikers, we’re going to practice maneuvers!
> Grab the guns, we’re going to practice shooting!
> Grab the PT gear, we’re going hiking!
> Other

>>42312141
> Grab the PT gear, we’re going hiking!
Woooo hiking.

>>42312141
> Grab the Strikers, we’re going to practice maneuvers!

>>42312141
> Grab the Strikers, we’re going to practice maneuvers!

>>42312141
>Grab the Strikers, we’re going to practice maneuvers!

Guess Saturday is quite the slow day, huh.

>>42312371
Nah just don't feel like voting.

> Grab the Strikers, we’re going to practice maneuvers!

-

-

“Alright, everyone ready!?” You look at everyone in their Strikers. “Rascal!” She nods, holding her M1 Garand, ready to roll. “Thorn!” She nods as well, ready with her M1919 Browning LMG. Good, very good. “Aurelia.” She takes a glance at her fingernails, seemingly not paying attention. “… okay. Uh, Greta!” You blink. There’s only four witches here. “Greta!?” You look back at the hangar to see Greta still struggling to get her Striker moving out of it.

“I’ll be with you in a minute!” she yells.

You drive on over to her, then toss a chain onto her Striker’s legs. “Hey, what are you-!?” You start towing her. “Hey! Stop, stop! This is too fast! Slow down! AAAAHHH!” She screams as you take her a measly ten miles an hour to the gathering point.

Finally, she stops screaming when you get there, but she’s still a bit shaken up by the experience, holding onto Aurelia. You’ve found yourself on a hill next to the base, that gives a good clear view of the area and a lot of room to practice with your Strikers. “Alright,” you say. “We’re going to do a simple V formation. I’ll take point-“ Thorn raises her hand. “What is it?”

“It’s a bad idea for the NCO in charge to take point,” she says. Oh? “You’re the first target for Neuroi that are waiting to ambush you.”

Okay, that’s actually a good point. “… fine. Um. Rascal, you take point.”

Rascal shakes her head. “Too fragile to take point.” She holds up one of her Striker legs, showing off that it is infact a Halftrack unit. They still make those!? “Thorny should do it.”

“No, I think the person with the powerful shields should do it,” says Thorn. “Greta, you do it.”

“I will gladly take charge!” she yells. “Follow me, children!” She starts charging down the hill. Slowly. But the way her body is bent, and the look on her face, she looks as if she’s breaking the sound barrier.

[1/2]

>>42312141
>> Grab the PT gear, we’re going hiking!

>>42313030
[2/2]

…

Aurelia raises her hand. “Can I take point?”

“We can’t let the AA guy take point,” says Thorn.

“Look, it doesn’t matter who takes point!” you yell. “This is just training!”

Greta looks back. “Hey! Are you coming or not!?” She wiggles her butt, waving over to you. “I’m all alone out here!”

> “Greta takes point. Follow her.”
> “Forget it, Greta. I’ll take point.”
> “Thorn, this is your fault, you go.”
> Other

>>42313050
> “Thorn, this is your fault, you go.”

>>42313050
>> “Greta takes point. Follow her.”

SLOW RIDE.

>>42313050
>“Greta takes point. Follow her.”
Set speed by the slowest and you won't have someone lagging behind.

>>42313050
> “Forget it, Greta. I’ll take point.”

>>42313050
> “Greta takes point. Follow her.”

> “Greta takes point. Follow her.”

“Greta will take point. Thorn, Rascal, you two go on the left, me and Aurelia will take the right.”

“I’m about to get out of the distance where even my screams won’t be heard!” yells Greta, from a distance where a whisper could be heard. “Hurry up!”

You sigh. “Everyone got that?” They mutter agreements, crossing their arms. “I said, everyone got that!?” They all nod, immediately speeding off to their positions. Ugh.

Despite their initial protests and some cumbersome issues regarding speed (Rascal Striker engines actually stall at Greta’s cruise speed) and some finicky work with the formation, you’ve finally got it! Aurelia is on the far flank, watching the skies. Rascal is hanging back, but ready to speed up and form a flanking party with Thorn at any moment, while you back up Greta with supporting fire as she forms the central block of the formation. This is it, you’ve finally figured out the V-Formation!

… after three hours.

You all fall into the snow, lying on your backs, sweaty, tired, hungry, and a little drained of magic from the exercise. Rascal is already asleep, twitching a bit. “I can’t believe it took us that long to figure that out,” says Aurelia. “It’s such a simple formation.”

“Hey, you try working with yourself,” says Greta. “See where that gets you.” Aurelia tries to roll over to slap Greta, but can roll over onto her face, giving up.

“Hey, shut up you fecking scunners, I got a…” Thorn points at the two, then gives up. “Whatever.”

You smile, happily. “But hey, we figured it out guys!” You roll over, propping yourself up on your elbows. “Come on! Show some spirit! You guys are learning now! We’ll be real witches by week’s end!”

Everyone groans.

Real enthusiastic, guys.

“Can we stop?” asks Aurelia. “I’ve never had to work so hard before.”

> Stop. Might as well get a shower and some food in you.
> “Awww, the wittle baby tired? Too bad. I’m putting on my ANGRY FOREMAN CAP!”
> Other

>>42313989
> Stop. Might as well get a shower and some food in you.

>>42313989
> “Awww, the wittle baby tired? Too bad. I’m putting on my ANGRY FOREMAN CAP!”

>>42313989
> Stop. Might as well get a shower and some food in you.

>>42313989
>Stop. Might as well get a shower and some food in you.

>>42313989
> “Awww, the wittle baby tired? Too bad. I’m putting on my ANGRY FOREMAN CAP!”
No shower-scene yet! Soap staying un-dropped!

>>42313989
>> “Awww, the wittle baby tired? Too bad. I’m putting on my ANGRY FOREMAN CAP!”

> Stop. Might as well get a shower and some food in you.

-

-

“This is our idea of a shower?”

“The old ones are busted, we have to make do.”

“Yeah, but this is a little…” The fact that you were sitting in a barrel, getting hosed with water by Rascal while Greta and Thorn rub soap all over you really said something about the logistics situation here. “… Neuroi-ish.”

Aurelia sat on a chair, already sitting in a towel, waiting her turn. “Just make it quick, I’m drowning in my own sweat here.”

“I wish,” Greta mutters. Aurelia gives her a bit of a stink eye, but then goes back to reading her book. “So, lunch afterwards then?” You nod. “Good, good! I am dying to get a bit of your cooking into my belly, Child.”

“I might just break something out of the MRE, I don’t really feel like it today.” Greta pouts a bit. “Just saying, we gotta go back to training after this. I mean, we can’t just go three hours a day learning how to do one formation. We’re barely ninety-day wonders at this point!” You throw your arms out. “It really cheeses me off that you guys aren’t taking this more seriously!”

Rascal grunts. “Why should we? It’s not like they’re actually going to hrow us into combat anyway.”

“Hey!” You frown deeply at her. “The nations of the world need witches of all calibers, even with your uh… distinctions that make you, you! They need all of us!” You throw your arms up again. “All of us! Together!” Everyone stares at you. “… come on guys, together!” you whine.

Thorn sighs. “Kid, I don’t know about you, but they are not going to deploy us with how we mismanage our magic. Rascal can’t stop stealing things, my magic’s er… well Rascal can’t stop stealing things, Greta’s too slow, and Aurelia can’t make shields above her waist. It’s hopeless.”

[1/2]

>>42315295
[2/2]

“You guys give up too soon! That’s not the Liberion way!” you shout.

“Only Rascal is Liberion among us,” says Aurelia. “And even she agrees.

“Now hold on!” says Greta. “I have to agree with the Child!” She brings your head closer to her bosom, wetting her blouse. “We have to be prepared for combat at all times! Even if we are not constantly on call! We could be called upon to deploy at any time! Like right now!”

Everyone stops, then looks around.

…

Nope, nothing.

You sigh. You actually were kind of hoping for that.

“Face it,” says Thorn. “Much as we want to go back to the frontlines, we’re just here so they know which witches not to send out.”

“You guys are such whiners!” you hiss. “I didn’t work two years in the supply depot to be sent down to the Minors!” You bang on the barrel. “Let me out of here! I’m gonna have a stern talking to the Colonel!”

“Hey!” Greta pushes you further into the barrel. “Not until you’re clean!” She leans in, her eyes going wide. She whispers to you. “… the Colonel hates it when people are unclean.” You certainly have experience with that.

> “… fine, bath me, THEN I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL!”
> “FORGET IT! I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL NOW AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME! I’M ANGRY!”
> Other

>>42315318
> “FORGET IT! I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL NOW AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME! I’M ANGRY!”
AAAAANGRY

>>42315318
> “FORGET IT! I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL NOW AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME! I’M ANGRY!”

>>42315318
> “… fine, bath me, THEN I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL!”

>>42315318
> “… fine, bath me, THEN I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL!”

>>42315318
>> “FORGET IT! I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL NOW AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME! I’M ANGRY!”

>>42315318
>“… fine, bath me, THEN I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL!”

> “FORGET IT! I’LL GO TO THE COLONEL NOW AND YOU CAN’T STOP ME! I’M ANGRY!”

You tip the barrel over, splashing soapy water all over the place. “FORGET IT!” You grab a towel and wrap it around yourself. “I’M ANGRY! I’M GOING TO SEE THE COLONEL AND GIVE HER A PIECE OF MY MIND!” You storm off, your little splashing and squeaking across the concrete floor. “Of all the little… motherfucker! I’ll tear her head off if it’s true that she had the gall to put me in some menial labor unit! I’ll fucking tear her eyes out and wear ‘em like earrings!”

You don’t even care that the rest of the squad look terrified of you.

-

-

You bust down the door. Colonel Hessler barely turns her head up from her typewriter as she watches step inside, buck naked except for a towel. “Now you see here, Colonel! I want to get something straight! I am here to fight! I am not here to be your little errand girl! I’m not going to just sit idly by while Captain Kelly and her girls go off and fight and be all cool and heroic without ME! I spent two years in a supply depot having to watch all that equipment-“

She clears her throat, silencing you. “Sit down,” she says. You open your mouth. “Sit.” She stands up, placing her hands square on her desk and staring a hole right into you. Oh. You’ve made a horrible mistake. “Down.” You carefully slide a chair over and sit down, looking down. “What made you burst into my office stark naked like this?”

[1/2]

File: Hessler.jpg (99 KB, 850x499)

99 KB JPG

>>42316857
[2/2]

You press your lips together, glancing up. “Th-… there were rumors that you formed us up to make it easier which witches not to deploy.”

She nods, scratching her chin. “While it is true that you witches have peculiarities that are detrimental to your development in magic, I did not form you into a unit because of such. I will be quite candid with you. And I believe I have already said this before. I am desperate for manpower. The 1st Joint Armored Corps can go only so far without witches. And you are witches. Hence, I will use you. Just not now. Understood?”

You’re quiet, then nod. “Y-… understood, ma’am.”

“Good.” She places her hands on her hips. She takes a sniff. “Is that motor oil I smell?” You nod. “Were you using an old oil drum for a bath?” You nod again. “If you needed a shower, I could lend you and your squad mine. It’s no trouble.”

“No, no, it’s…” You stand up, gripping your towel tight. “I uh… I’ve embarrassed myself enough.”

“You have,” she says bluntly. “Really, I insist.” You’re about to refuse when Colonel Hessler says this. “The Neuroi use scent as one of their ways of tracking things to salvage. They’ll think you’re an old tank and absorb you.”

…

> “No, no, I’ll just… go now.”
> “Um. Sure, I’ll bring the girls.”
> “Um. Yeah, okay. Thank you.”
> Other

>>42316884
> “Um. Yeah, okay. Thank you.”

>>42316884
> “Um. Sure, I’ll bring the girls.”

>>42316884
> “Um. Sure, I’ll bring the girls.”

>>42316884
> “Um. Yeah, okay. Thank you.”
Shower time!

>>42316884
>> “No, no, I’ll just… go now.”

>>42316884
> “Um. Yeah, okay. Thank you.”

>>42316884
>> “Um. Sure, I’ll bring the girls.”

> “Um. Yeah, okay. Thank you.”

You’re silent for a second or two, then nod. “Okay. Sure. Um.” You nod. “Okay. Thank you. I’ll be quick.” She nods.

…

She motions to the door. “Going?”

“Yeah! Yeah, sure!” You immediately bolt for the door.

-

-

You return back to the hangar, no longer smelling of motor oil and now smelling strangely of apples! Plus, you are wearing one of the Colonel’s spare greatcoats so that’s a thing too. But regardless, you find the squad hanging out in the hangar. Aurelia is already in the midst of her barrel bath, being washed by Rascal while Greta and Thorn play chess on one of the beds. “I’m back!”

Thorn looks over at you. “Did you find out what the good word is?”

“We are being deployed,” you say. “But not now. The Colonel was quite straight with me. She needs us. All of us.” You place your hands on your hips, looking at each and every one of them. “And I must say to each and every one of you. There will be no more whining and complaining! We are a military unit now! We are Tank Witches! I don’t want to hear any more complaints about being tired or being hot or cold or nothing! We are going to drive ourselves into the ground if it means we get our shot at combat! You get that?”

Aurelia grunts. “Eh.”

Thorn nods. “Sure.”

Greta claps her Queen into place. “Checkmate.”

“BULLSHIT!” Thorn throws the chess set off the bed, throwing pieces all over the place. “That is fecking horseshit that Scholar’s Mate you pull you fecking loon!”

Greta smirks, shrugging mockingly. “It’s a legitimate opening.”

[1/2]

>>42318339
[2/2]

Thorn nods. “Yeah.” She stands up, smiling at you. “I get you, Kid.”

“Me too, Child.” Greta smiles, walking over and slapping you hard on the back.

“Yep,” says Rascal.

“I would come over and say something sentimental but I’m in the bath.” She flips a page in her book. “Go, JCT!” She pumps her fist in the air.

You grin, then do the same. “Go, JCT!”

“Go, JCT!” everyone screams.

“Go, JCT!”

File: Rosemary.png (1.05 MB, 1280x1280)

1.05 MB PNG

That's it for tonight. Sorry for the slowness, tired myself out a bit doing some chores before the thread but maybe tomorrow things will be faster with Magical Girl Liberty! Hope to see you there if it runs.

Follow at: https://twitter.com/GermanSchteel

See you next time.

>>42318413
Thanks for running, boss.

>>42318413
Thanks for running GS!

>>42318413
Thanks for running, slow threads are okay too once in a while

>>42318413
Thanks for the fun, boss. Sorry I missed most of it. Stupid work.