Strike Witches - Road to Berlin - Episode 10 - Strike Witches Drop

The Allies dropped Strike Witches like bombs on top of the Neuroi. They're all bombshells in their own ways.

The plan to expose the Neuroi Nest core over Berlin started out well. Bombs burst through the Neuroi cloud, the boss was exposed, and the Strike Witches were poised to kill it.

The Wolf Neuroi had tricks left to play, like erecting its version of the Berlin Wall. With frickin' lasers! The crossfire kill box prevented the Strike Witches from getting under the Boss before it could protect its core. It was time to retreat.

Shizuka had two objectives. First, get Yoshika out of there to conserve her magic for more shield missions. And two, protect her escape by covering the retreating bombers. Amazingly, Yoshika flew home without landing next to the Wolf Nest, finding a broken pipe, and bashing it to smithereens. Shizuka took out a bomber by herself, but used up her magic. She received a nice princess carry home from Shirley.

The eye catches show how Operation Southwind changed to match the changing conditions dealt to the Allies by the Neuroi. Shizuka played a big part in that first strike, so we get to see her watch the Neuroi walls literally closing in.

Shizuka received front page treatment for how she convinced "the famous Miyafuji [to] return to base, for once." Yoshika has a hardass reputation! The first strike against Berlin was partly successful, because the cloud is gone, but now it's a ground campaign, which was the original campaign's plan. Yoshika needs to sit out everything to conserve her magic for her big role in it. Disturbingly, Patton points to red cannons, which makes me think they're going to use Neuroi tech again, which always ends badly.

Unfortunately, the Neuroi have plans too, and they counterstruck against the military base with a honking huge bomber. Also unfortunately, the bomber was on a suicide bombing run and it fell to Yoshika to protect the base with an even bigger shield. Shirley rescued Shizuka again after the Neuroi gave her a deep cut on her leg. Yoshika gave the other witches enough time to find the core and destroy the Neuroi, but she used up all her magic.

Shizuka saw Yoshika totally drained before she collapsed from guilt and blood loss. The Allies' plans for using Yoshika's skills appear to be moot now. Is it? We shall see.