Until proven otherwise, I find it hard to believe those sisters could actually cooperate with anybody else to act in a proper military mission. Of course they might have some old geezer general somewhere whom they worship like the second coming, and when the man says something, they will obey it to the letter, even if it obviously means their own death. Such a cliche would suit this nicely. Like this sad episode desperately tried to teach, a best pilot is not just a lonely ace boosting his own record but somebody who ensures the mission will be accomplished.