We lead off with an intro explaining the state of the world and how only our select bunch of intrepid young girls have the power to save mankind, etc. etc. Then we cut to our rookie trio of Yoshika Miyafuuji, Lynette Bishop and Francesca Lucchini flying around, buzzing city streets and generally having a grand old time. When they land, though, they're met with a lecture from disciplinarian Mio Sakamoto and assigned to kitchen patrol.

Francesca basically lounges around snacking while Lynette rushes around dropping crockery and Yoshika prepares breakfast - unfortunately, since it's a multinational squadron, the traditional Japanese morning meal (complete with natto) doesn't meet with everyone's approval.

After a quick briefing everyone suits up, grabs their weapons and takes off for a bit of live-fire training. The squadron divides into two, with Sakamoto, Yeager, Lityvak, Juutilainen, Barkhorn and Clostermann on one side and Wilcke, Hartmann, Miyafuuji, Bishop and Lucchini on the other. Although everyone seems to be using live ammunition, they appear to have some kind of energy shielding so nobody gets hurt. High points of the battle include Bishop's antitank rifle jamming on her, allowing Lityvak to turn the tables and blast her away with a rocket salvo, Miyafuuji demonstrating the old canard of "never turn with a Zero!" to Clostermann and Sakamoto's dogfight with Miyafuuji under the treetops.

After beating her soundly, Sakamoto berates Miyafuuji for not taking a shot at Clostermann when she had the chance. Distressed, Yoshika replies that she couldn't shoot at a comrade. Sakamoto tells her to go home if she doesn't have the resolve for combat.

Afterwards, we see the others relaxing in the bath. Yoshika trudges up the path with her suitcases in each hand, then stops as she sees Wilcke sitting on the roof of a house admiring the moon. One quick pep talk later (in which we find out the Wilcke's country, her family and friends are all gone - does that mean Germany was destroyed in this alternate reality?), Miyafuuji is persuaded to stay. We cut to a shot of her arriving back at the squadron's lodgings, and everyone turning out to welcome her.

One interesting detail: Wilcke, as the highest-ranking officer (lieutenant colonel) is clearly the squadron commander. But Sakamoto appears to act more or less as her deputy, even though she's only a second lieutenant - Yeager and Barkhorn are captains, while Lityvak, Hartmann and Clostermann are first lieutenants. I wonder if Sakamoto began as an NCO and was promoted to an officer on account of her combat record, like Saburo Sakai? In that case, her experience and seniority might count for more than her rank.

I really liked the subtle "mecha" (if we can even call it that). While Sky Girls already toned down the mecha with eksoskeletons, S.Witches brought that further with a simple, yet still cute initialization sequence. Also, I love this whole new "broom" concept.