“The Morrigan, or the Great Queen, is the Goddess of Warfare, Sovereignty and fate. A shape shifter she appears with jet black raven wings to warriors before great battles, washing their armor and forewarning of death or victory.”
Caw! Caw! The Crow’s call caught Penny off guard. She had been absorbed in reading her copy of Britannian gods and their significance. She had read the book multiple times before, but hadn’t intended to linger on the thought of death. She knew that the Britannian commonwealth was struggling to find volunteer witches to fill their ranks, and she decided to take the boat from Winterpeg to Windsor and from there a train to Ottawa, She knew the combined boat and train ride through the Superior bay would be long so she took the thickest book she had in her home, even so, she started to understand why people called Ottawa, Out-o-way, since it was way out there. In truth she had already finished the book once on the boat already, and once on the train, but while she waited for a bus to take her from the Station across from the Parliament down the river to Farawayland Forces Base Stonecliff, she had pulled it out and started reading it a third time.
Penny intended to enlist. She used what money she had left and bought the tickets with just enough for a meal and bus ticket to spare. Her brother had already enlisted and was in the navy serving on a Corvette in the North Atlantic, she also couldn’t sit idly by when it was a witch’s duty to protect her village. Not that Winterpeg was anywhere near the front lines, heck Farawayland wasn’t even threatened by the enemy. Everyone knew that Neuroi didn’t like water and with oceans on three sides and the mighty allied nation of the United States of Liberion to the south, Farawayland only had to worry about threats from above. Even still, her grandparents had settled in Winterpeg 70 years before, having emigrated from Britannia, and with the ever present threat from the sky, she decided she’d use her talents to join the air force.
This had surprised almost everyone who knew Penny, she was earnest and kindhearted. Even her father who had also served in the military was shocked by this decision and was first against it. He had told her how hard of a life it was and the true cost of service. Penny had known her father had served, but had never talked to him about it before; he barely brought it up. But, that night, they had a long conversation. She had learned things she never imagined, She didn’t realize that her fathers asthma wasn’t asthma at all but scarring from inhaling poison gas. She had never heard of such a Neuroi before. He went into detail about how it was during the great war, How after only 1 week of being deployed to the front line the Neuroi attacked, It was a type that had never been encountered before. This Neuroi was like no other and instead of firing beams it exuded a poisonous chlorine gas that would settle into any trench and crater. Within 1 hour of encountering the front lines the gas had killed over 1000 of the Gallian Foreign legion’s best warriors, before it had turned to face the Farawaylander Corps’s First Division. Fortunately the gas had been identified by its odor, and word had come down from commander Currie’s command post and spread among the troops that ammonia in urine could neutralize the chlorine gas. With soaked rags tied to their faces they had held out against the Neuroi for 24 hours, pouring all their fire power into the beast just to pin it down, just long enough for the Red Baroness to show up on her broom. Within moments of her arrival the Battle had been won, but the rags weren’t perfect and the small amount of chlorine gas he had inhaled had turned to Hydrochloric acid in his lungs and permanently scarred the soft tissue.
Penny had thought in silence after hearing her fathers story. “But even in your story a witch had come your rescue, how can you sit here and try to prevent me from joining the war effort when so many others in the community have already enlisted. Even Edward is in the Navy..” she had intended to say more.
But her father interrupted her, “My beautiful shining Penny, my intention is not to discourage you, but to educate you. These are the horrors that you will see and face. War is hell, it changes people. This is why we must guard each other from destruction. War is not for the meek, but as I have always said: Do not mistake Kindness for Weakness. I know your kindness, but I also know your courage. War is not for glory. The only purpose to fight, is to protect the innocent from the horrors of chaos and destruction. But….” He trailed off.
His Eyes focusing on nowhere, but penny thought it must have been some point a thousand miles away on the open ocean.
“I know how important your talents are to the war effort, and I gave your brother my blessing already, how could I tell you no, you can go, as long as you can get there yourself, We don’t have enough to spare with the convoy raids and rationing affecting our shopping, and I still have to watch the farm… ” He paused. “Just promise me that you’ll come back”
That was only a week ago but Penny had gathered her savings and sold what she could, even her cherished childhood broomstick, to make the money to get here, to this city. She peered out as the city’s buildings gave way to idyllic farmland, It hadn’t even been 10 minutes before the bus pulled up to a chain link fence.
“Final stop: StoneCliff Airforce base” the bus driver called out.
Penny got off and looked around. The road continued through the fence but was blocked by a security gate with a bar across it. Inside the booth was a guard. There was a building to the right of the road on both sides of the gate as well as a large blockhouse further down inside the base. Suddenly Penny heard the sound of droning, and turned to face in the direction it was coming from. Two witches in bright yellow Harvard striker units breezed through the air. The bright blue magic propellors glowing even in daylight, had Penny looking on in amazement. She had never seen strikers in action in person before, Only a couple pictures in the news reels or at the Odeon. Even though she had never seen them before she could tell the difference in skill of the two pilots. One was almost perfectly straight as an arrow, While the other witch seemed to be having trouble keeping up or keeping level. They disappeared behind the treeline seemingly descending into it.
Penny couldn’t wait. She walked up to the gate.
She waited
…
…
She looked over at the guard hut. The guard was looking at her
“Eh… Excuse me? Can I get into the base I would Like to volunteer to be a pilot”
“Sorry Mam, Can’t let you in, On account of you being a civilian and this here being a Military base.”
“Ah, well I guess that makes sense…. But then how else am I supposed to apply to be a pilot?”
“Yes mam, the building directly behind you is the Civilian administration office, you can Apply over there, eh.”
Penny marched into the building and looked around, on one side was a small table with some pens on it, directly infront of her was a desk with a serious looking woman typing furiously at a typewriter, and in the corner another girl sat reading a news paper. Penny walked up to the serious looking lady’s desk,
“I’d like to become a pilot” she blurted out.
“Oh, well Hello,” said the receptionist slightly taken aback, before regaining her poise. “Ah yes, here to apply for witch training. You will just have to fill out these forms, make sure you sign your name on all dotted lines and date them too.” She said handing over a 3 identical forms. Penny took the forms and found a small table off to the side of the room where she could fill out the forms. The paper work was pretty straight forward until it got to a section about her own personal history.
What is your greatest Strength?
What is your Magical Affinity?
In truth Penny didn’t really think of herself as strong. Perhaps strong of character, but would the military really care if she was cheerful and selfless. She then remembered something her brother Edward told her, That knowledge is power.
What Is your greatest Strength? I am a quick learner
What is your Magical Affinity?
The second question was harder. In truth Penny was a mediocre witch, her best talent was that she could fly but so could every other witch. She knew more powerful Witches usually had a talent, but if she did have a talent it had yet to manifest itself.
What is your Magical Affinity? I can fly.
Penny looked at it. It looked pathetic. There’s no way they’d accept her, she thought, She added a few more words. It still didn’t look great, and it wasn’t exactly true, but it’d have to do.
What is your Magical Affinity?I can fly. Really Really Well.
She finished the paper work and brought it to the receptionist.
“Ah thank you dear” the receptionist said. Penny waited, the receptionist turned back to the type writer and started to type. Penny cleared her throat. The typing stopped, “Eh?” The receptionist asked. “Well, uh when do I get into the base?” Penny asked.
“Oh sweetheart, you just applied, It takes about five days before any applications can be approved. But you’re in luck because we just so happen to be starting a new training class so if you are accepted you should know for sure by Friday and Camp will start on Monday, so at the very least you’ll make the cutoff”
“Eh?!? but that’s not good!” Penny stammered “I don’t have anywhere else to go, I spent all my money getting here, I thought I’d be able to sleep in the base”
“I’m afraid not, however there is an inn just down the road.” And with that the receptionist returned to her work.
Penny turned away defeated,
“Now wait here a moment,” An unfamiliar voice with a hint of Scottish lilt. “lass, do you need a place to stay?”
Penny looked back, the girl in the corner was standing in front of her now, Penny realized that she was about her age. “Eh? I mean Yes! I do actually, I came here from winterpeg to enlist I didn’t think I’d have to wait to join up”
“Ah well then you’re in luck, eh. I also just applied. I’m in town from Dundarry, Its a local villiage, and I’m staying at a cousin’s place, I know this might be kind of forward, but you’re more than welcome to stay with us, I’m sure my cousins won’t mind, I’m just waiting for them to pick me up”
“Eh, I wouldn’t want to impose” Penny said. Frowning
“Don’t be silly” The girl said, “I’m Agatha Mcleod, I’m from around these parts, It’ll be good to have a guide.” Suddenly a car horn blared, Awwooga. “Ah that must be my cousin here to pick me up, come with me.” Before Penny could say anything Agatha had grabbed her hand and dragged her into the 32 pickup that was waiting outside.
Agatha’s cousin was older than penny expected but he ended up being very friendly and warm. They arrived at a small dairy farm on the outskirts of the city. They made the chesterfield up to act like a bed, but when penny was going to head to bed, Agatha insisted that Penny take the guest bedroom while She take the couch. The week passed uneventfully, each day Penny fretted about her application. She learned that Agatha was an Air cadet and that if she was accepted a fast-tracked promotion system would automatically give her the rank of Lieutenant. Penny also tried to help out around the farm, At first Agatha was against it and insisted that as a guest Penny should do nothing. This lasted about 1 day before Agatha reversed her decision on the basis that not giving Penny chores to do was making Penny was worse for Penny’s mood than giving her work.
Penny would be out milking the cows or cleaning the barn when every so often she would either see or hear some witches flying overhead. It made sense, they were close to the base, but every time she saw them she’d stop and gaze upon their intricate moves. Sometimes they’d be doing straight fly bys, other times they would seem to be moving in formation while flying back and forth across the sky. Other times there would be intricate formations, almost as if they were figure skating in the air.
Before she knew it the week was over and they were walking back into the Administration center. The receptionist took their names, looked through a filing cabinent and produced two manila envelopes. They were both labeled with their names. She handed them out and penny took hers.
Her heart was beating and her fingers felt soft and rubbery as she fumbled trying to open the envelope. Ungracefully she just tore at the paper and pulled the letter out.
To Miss Bannock,
You have been accepted as a candidate for Her Majesties Royal Farawaylander Airforce. You are to report to duty to Farawayland Forces Base Stonecliff at 0600 hours Monday Morning.
