Strike Witches (ストライクウィッチーズ)

Eila! That's dangerous! You need to use your shield!

Huh? You haven't been paying attention?

And here we go!

W-Wow!

itsuka itsuka yakusoku no sora

kimi to nara mata toberu yo

kuyashikute tsurakute nemurenai yoru

dare ni demo aru yo

sonna toki wa yonde kaketsukeru kara

oto no hayasa de ne

sore ga sadame demo ne aragau yo

kimi ga hora waratte ne kureru kara

kanaetai yume tooi kedo

issho nara dekiru yo muteki no yuuki de

kirakira hikaru sono namida

egao no mahou de ne tsubasa ni kaetara

kitto kitto habatakeru kara

niji o koe sono saki made

Is that it?

It looks like we've taken out most of them.

It's strange, though. This was too easy.

That takes care of all the little ones.

I'm looking for the main one that's controlling them, but...

You think it's still active?

Are you sure we didn't blow it up at some point?

The small ones should've disappeared if we defeated the main ship.

What is that?!

It goes right through the clouds!

Don't tell me that's the main ship...?!

Wait here, all of you!

Major!

Such height...!

Is that the core?

I can't go further...

This is bad...

Temporary retreat. We're returning to base.

But we haven't eliminated the enemy yet...!

We'll rethink our plan once we've returned.

We've been out for too long today.

If we don't head back now, we won't be able to reach the base.

"Episode 6: Higher than the Sky"

What's that?

What's what?

Is it a twig from something?

You're annoying me. It's nothing.

Where did you find it? Why are you carrying something like that?

What's it to you?!

Can't I at least see it?!

H-How are you so quick like that, Eila?

You need more than quickness to be like me!

I can use magic to see the future.

I can predict everyone's movements, whether it's the enemy or even you!

Wow...

Haven't you been paying any attention at all?

I don't mean to brag, but I've never used a shield in real combat.

In my eyes, people who rely on those things are second-rate.

How can you say that?!

People say my shield is my only redeeming quality, too...!

-Sheesh...

-You shouldn't talk that way, Eila.

Welcome back, everyone...

Sanya!

Sanya!

Oh, right. You have night patrol now.

Yeah.

Wait, Sanya. There's no need tonight.

Return to base with us.

Yes, ma'am.

Central Command contacted us earlier.

About this latest Neuroi incident?

Yes. Romagna's navy and air force are going to take over from here.

Oh?

They must want results too.

Then let us sit back and see how they fare.

It must be tough always carrying something this big, Sanya.

Not at all. I'm used to it.

Sanya does a lot of solo night patrol, so if anything happens,

she can hold her own in a fight with this Flieger-hammer.

Wow! That's amazing!

But it's less lonely if someone's with you, right?

Yeah!

Oh, right! This is...

Oh, that's...

A leaf from a needle-leaf tree?

Here you go, Sanya.

It's just a leaf...

Wow! Thanks, Eila!

We flew near a cypress forest today, you see.

It looked a little like Orussia in the winter.

There were lots of them near the house I used to live in, you see.

Oh!

Now I see!

Those are photos taken by air force recon planes.

It just looks like a scratch in the film...

This is the Neuroi that appeared this afternoon.

This is what a full shot of it resulted in.

It has an estimated length of over 30,000 meters.

30,000?! Meaning it's 30 kilometers tall?!

Let's see, compared to Mt. Fuji, that's...

This is moving toward Rome at a slow speed

of approximately ten kilometers per hour.

The real trouble is the location of its core.

Here.

The very top?

Yes. I saw it with my own eye.

But the highest our Striker Units can go is 10,000 meters, at most...

Yes. That's why our plan will utilize these.

Rocket boosters.

Will these let us fly to where the core is?

No, I doubt it's that simple.

It isn't.

The boosters are powerful, but they can only fly for a short time

due to the enormous amounts of magic energy they consume.

Then we should just carry someone part of the way up.

Exactly.

Still, 30,000 meters high... There's not even any air up there.

What?! There's no air?!

You wouldn't be able to hear anyone talk, then...

Oh! You might be right!

What?! You can't hear anything?!

30,000 meters is an ultra-high altitude.

It's unknown territory that far surpasses human limits.

But we're Witches. There is nothing a Witch can't do.

So, we'll need someone with instantaneous, wide-range attack capabilities...

Sanya!

I would like you to attack the core.

Huh?!

An attack with your Flieger-hammer will be indispensable to this mission.

Here, here, here!

Then I'll go with her!

Oh, I see.

Incidentally, Eila. Have you ever raised a shield?

A shield?

I don't mean to brag, but I've never once raised a shield in actual combat.

Then you can't do it.

Right! I can't!

Huh?!

Yes, you aren't up to it in this case...

Wh-Why not?!

Besides the use of boosters in this plan, surviving the harsh environment

will also consume an enormous amount of magic energy, as will the attack.

Which will leave Sanya unable to protect herself.

So she will need someone to protect her and serve as her shield.

I-It isn't like I can't create a shield, though!

But you've never used one in actual combat.

Exactly!

You can't do it after all.

Miyafuji! You'll do it!

Y-Yes, ma'am! Huh?

You're the best suited for this; you have the most powerful shield here.

Y-Yes, ma'am...

L-Listen, could you kindly give me some room?

Don't look at me. It's cramped in here.

Why on earth did you call me here anyway?

Because you're always fighting with Miyafuji.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

What gives you that idea?

Whew, honestly, now. Saunas and I don't mix...

Whatever! Just help me out!

Sanya?

Can't you pay attention?! Let's go, cranky four-eyes!

Will you stop calling me that?!

U-Umm...

Are you sure about this?

It's fine. Just do it.

B-But...

All right, Eila. Think of me as Sanya and protect me, if you would.

What? You, Sanya?

-Are you really, really sure about this?!

-Just do it, will you?!