Bullets fly again

June 30th 1950, Naval Air Station Glenview, Illinois, Liberion

Cadet Hanna Buttelmann couldn't believe her luck when she spotted a lone MiG-3, an easy target for someone flying an F-80. Deciding this chance to be too good to pass up she dived after her unsuspecting prey, she could carry on with her mission after she has shot down this girl.
>"I don't get why everyone keeps telling me to be careful when engaging MiGs, even if the witches flying them are veterans, this one clearly isn't anything special" Hanna thinks to herself as she lines up for her shot, when suddenly the platinum-haired girl turns her head towards her & Hanna notices the magic antenna around her head. A night witch born with a magic radar. This is a trap and she fell for it.
Before she can react she is covered in paint bullets from behind & the radio comes to life as a girl with an unfamiliar accent reprimands her.
>"And~ you are dead, cadet, you should know by now that a lone MiG is either a bait for a trap, or even worse, an opponent who doesn't need a wingman!"

Hanna turns to look behind her expecting to see another MiG, but instead she sees a blonde girl flying a Thunderbolt.
>"Aren't you supposed to be on HER side, Eila?" asks a voice with an Orussian accent, this must be the night witch.
>"!?!W-well, she clearly needed a reminder of why it is important to follow orders!" Major Juutilainen exclaims in a panic.
After hearing their names Hanna now recognizes both of these instructors, Major Litvyak and Major Juutilainen could probably take on the entire class of cadets on their own & come on top without a scratch, she had messed up big time & she knows it.
>"The most classic case of a pot calling a kettle black if I ever saw one" a Liberion witch's voice joins the chatter, Lieutenant Colonel Yeager had arrived from Edwards a couple days earlier & was not too happy about this temporary assignment as an instructor getting in the way of her career test-flying faster and faster experimental aircraft, but she wasn't mad enough to have lost her playful nature.
>"But enough of that, return to base, that means all three of you. No sense in continuing the exercise after instructors start defecting to the enemy!" Yeager continues.

Back at Glenview, after writing their reports Eila and Sanya go to the Officers' Club where the other instructors start teasing Eila about what she did. It is clear as day that Eila has more than a friendly interest in Sanya, and if there is one thing the other veterans love more than teasing Eila about that, it is seeing her reaction when they do so.
>"No need to get so worked up, Illu, we already know how much you love your wife, denying it is futile", a short and flat Karlsländer witch with Colonel's eagles on her uniform leads the attack as usual.
>"That's enough Hartmann, you can't make such accusations about a fellow officer, we don't need Article 133 proceedings started against BOTH of you at the same time, especially when they are warranted" another Karlsländer "full bird" interjects, poking fun at both Eila and Erika Hartmann at the same time.
>"What's that supposed to mean Trude?" Eila and Erika ask simultaneously.
Sanya, having seen the scene a thousand times before, ignores the routine and goes to play the piano, and as usual her playing brings the brewing argument to an end.
>"I need a beer, or a dozen!" Eila sighs while heading to the bar.
>"Don't forget you have a class to teach tomorrow!" Trude shouts after Eila.
>"I know, and you know that I am more than capable of teaching a class while hungover!"
>"...And THESE girls are the elites of the elite from the last war?" Buttelmann comments on the exchange she and the other cadets just witnessed.
>"I think it's BECAUSE they are the elites of elite that their behavior is tolerated, besides if the intel from Asia is reliable we will be facing off against the Orussian and Han veterans in Goryo in no time, so best to have the best of the best train us before we start getting shot at by veterans who mean to kill us."