Operation: Game Bird
Razgriz Leader's Quarter, OFS Kestrel
December 19th 2010, 09:30
Blaze is sitting in front of desk, savoring an illustration: A tiny-figured girl, just slightly above 130 centimeters by visual measurement, she has silky and light-pink-colored hair extends to her knees and is slightly curly at the end, also has snow-white skin and pink-purple irises resembling rose quartzes. Although tiny, this girl is surprisingly well-endowed, and is in an elegant princess-longuette, white pantyhose plus pink ballet-flats with bowknot attached to them. There is another girl in the picture, this girl is tall, almost around 170 centimeters by visual measurement, and is very well-endowed. She has brown-colored short hair, irises resembling orange imperial topaz, white skin that slightly darker than the first girl. Her fashions are rather ordinary, consisted by school uniform with short skirt, white pantyhose and brown court shoes.
"Beautiful girls, pretty clothing." Grimm's voice comes from behind: "And nice guns." Indicating the objects in each girl's hands: The tiny-figured girl is holding a modified Kar98k, while the tall girl is holding a modified Panzerschreck.
"Take a seat, Grimm." Blaze doesn't turn his head.
"Is this an old drawing left by him, or a new one drawn by you, captain?" Grimm finds a chair to sit down, and picks a bottle of iced Coca-Cola from refrigerator.
Blaze: "The latter. You know I'm taking over his cartooning operations."
"If my memory serves correctly, they're Hinata Hakamada and Airi Kashii." Grimm opens the bottle, takes a sip.
"Correct. I draw them because they remind me someone."
"First love?" Grimm jokes.
"More than first love." Blaze packs up his illustration, stands up, turn around to face Grimm, leaning on desk.
"Good things are you chose to copy the drawing style of earlier volumes of the light novel, and copied it well. Drawing style of later volumes' illustrations degenerated severely, too severely."
"I concur. The original cartoonist…cartoonist team broke up before later volumes were written. So theoretically, you can consider it was a complete different cartoonist who drew the pictures for upcoming volumes, degeneration of drawing style was expected."
"Say captain, if put you in Subaru Hasegawa's shoes, which one of the two varieties on your illustration will you choose? Triangle relationships and harems are justified in fictional universes, but let's just say you must choose one, only one."
Blaze: "That will be difficult. However if the situation really calls for, I'll take Hinata, although it's cruel to Airi. There's a saying 'if you don't want to marry her or add her into your harem, then don't be gentle and caring to her since the very beginning'. Obviously Subaru fails to realize this objective truth. He leaves good impressions to all girls in the team, but he is not taking subsequent responsibilities."
"You said it captain. Only Harem Ending is the correct way to conclude a harem story, otherwise will defeat the meaning of story's existence." Grimm stands up and leaves: "Mission briefing at 10:00 hour. Spoiler: Big event only once in a lifetime, we're going to get Arkbird."
Wolfgang: "OFS Andromeda deciphered another secret transmission from Belka, they have changed the code, so it took a little longer to decipher the message. Deciphered content is as follows: 'N attack by A-Sat on Okchabursk to commence at 14:00 hours.' We suspect it means Grey Men had secretly taken over Arkbird and repaired it to functional, and were planning to use Arkbird as orbital bomber to drop a V1-Class Thermonuclear Warhead over Yuktobanian city of Okchabursk. Our suspicion is confirmed by observing and analysis Arkbird's trajectory…"
"Question from the crowd." Grimm raises hand.
Wolfgang: "What is it?"
"Why attack a Yuktobanian city? We're the winning side, shouldn't Belkans nuke our city to balance out?"
"I'm as confused as you are, about what they're thinking." Wolfgang elaborates: "Since it's nuclear ordnance we're talking about, a possible explanation is they intend to make Osea looks gone desperate since Cinigrad is still standing, and therefore resorts in NBC weaponry, so Yuktobania can initiate a similar retaliation on frontlines or on our mainland. Let's continue briefing. No matter which city in which country is obliterated, result is equally catastrophic, president had issued his decree, launching Razgriz Squadron to destroy Arkbird. I know it's a reluctant decision for all of us, but this is war…"
Nagase raises hand.
Wolfgang: "Yes?"
"How about our crew onboard? Are they still alive? If they are, they'll go down with Arkbird if we shoot it down!"
"I understand your concern, Nagase. But we don't know the status of our astronauts and engineers, even they're still alive, their considerations only can be placed secondary to this mission." Wolfgang goes on explaining the mission: "You only have one short window of interception, that's when Arkbird descends to upper atmosphere to commence final orbital correction, by using air friction to lower speed, which is necessary to align itself to targeted city. We had precisely calculated time and coordinate of Arkbird's entry, and hangar staff retrofitted Raptors with Hayabusa Engines, to enable you to get to intercept altitude."
Schematics of Arkbird are displayed on screen wall. Wolfgang: "Arkbird's hull and structure are very durable even for enhanced armaments carried by tactical fighters, attacking blindly won't inflict any damages, you must aim on weak points, namely engine nozzles. There are totally five sets of engines on Arkbird, two sets of rocket engines for escape velocity, two sets of combined cycle engines for in-atmosphere flight, and auxiliary engines as backup. They are retracted inside fuselage unless in-use, concentrate firepower on them when they fire up, and let gravity do the rest." Pause, he adds: "Since Arkbird is commandeered by Belkan operatives, it's undoubtedly they also have taken control of the gas chemical laser weaponry, and probably installed more gears for combat purposes, beware any surprises it may throw at you. Dismiss."
Ceres Ocean
Longitude: 158 Degree 16 Minute 33 Second East
Latitude: 21 Degree 18 Minute 36 Second North
December 19th 2010, 13:09
Razgriz Squadron, piloting four F-22A Raptors, full-loaded with AIM-9Ms, AIM-9Xs and AIM-120Ds, also customized with Hayabusa Engine, Adv Anti-Balance Tab, Diffusion Coat, Destructive Missile, Extra Ammo, Tracer and Hawk Eye. They are advancing to estimated re-entry point of Arkbird at full speed. Even Arkbird will drop into upper atmosphere, but its altitude is still tough for fighters even with extra propulsive power provided by Hayabusa Engines.
Blaze: "Visual conformation of Arkbird. Twelve'o clock, coming in high. Load your weapons." Everyone presses their own master arm switch.
A bright, gigantic white acute-triangle appears at the top of indigo-colored vault of heaven, it is becoming larger and larger, soon pilots of Razgriz Squadron can make out its beautiful silhouette, two big empennages are integrated into main fuselage, near the rear-end of chassis there is a tiny downward empennages on both flanks.
Grimm: "We were so close…I feel like the Belkans are always one step ahead. Don't you, captain?"
Blaze: "Belkans may be one step ahead, but that's the furthest they can get. A big leap of ours is more than enough to catch up."
Grimm: "You're right captain. I haven't given up either, I had fought for so long, I will fight to the end."
"It's a shame." Nagase sighs: "Our national pride, the emblem of peace, the symbol of we humankind discard hostilities and dissensions in order to advance into a new era, now is tainted by evil, only destruction is its only redemption."
Grimm: "I understand, but this is a necessary lost to win back peace for the world."
Blaze: "And try to use reverse thinking Edge: Since Arkbird means so much to us, so only we are allowed to end its suffering in the Dark Side."
"Guys, look at the target! Something is happening!" Suddenly Snow, who is silent during past minutes, shouts to remind others.
Several white-contrail-trailing objects are ejected from the bottom of that gigantic aerospace vehicle and are falling to planet surface, the friction with atmosphere generates bright flame around them.
Nagase: "Escape pods…six of them, those are all the escape pods equipped by Arkbird, are they casting off unnecessary weights before initiating primary offense?"
No matter what Razgriz Squadron thinks, for Arkbird it is not the case. One of the personnel onboard it is communicating with an unknown ground control, in German: "Adler to Schenze, Ocean astronauts and engineers got away in escape pods. They jettisoned all six of them." It's obvious he is among those Belkan operatives who hijacked Arkbird and are planning to use it to nuke Okchabursk, of course "Adler" is not his real name.
Somewhere in Belka, someone is responding, in German too: "You are trained to operate this thing without any assistance. Carry on the mission, we will send a SSTO craft to dock with you after warhead is dropped." Like that Alder guy, "Schenze" is not his real name either.
"I know…damn it! They must've reprogrammed the flight control before escaping! Retro-rockets firing, all flaps deploying! We're decelerating fast!"
Arkbird is diving lower and lower as its reverse thrusters and airbrakes are fully functioning: "They've changed the security codes! Quick! Override the codes! We'll crash into ocean if we cannot regain control!"
Grimm: "Captain, doesn't the Arkbird's approach path seem too deep?"
Blaze: "You're right. That is…unnatural."
Snow: "Must be our crew. They set Arkbird to crash before escaping."
Nagase: "Maybe we can just watch it to crash, it's a relief that we might don't need to fire upon it."
"Security codes overridden! Reset airframe and rocket boosters! Five, four, three, two, one, ignition!" Two rectangle hatches open on the fuselage, located right above the two tiny downward empennages, exposing a set of double-barrel nozzles respectively. Nozzles simultaneously spray long tails of flame directly behind, generating tremendous propulsion to push Arkbird upwards.
"ぜんだんはっしゃ。(lit. Launch all missiles. in Japanese)" Four Raptors release four salvos of AIM-120Ds, six round for each salvo. However even being the weak points, nozzles of rocket engines are still too solid, direct impacts of missiles, but no significant damages.
"Adler to Schenze! We're under attack from rear!"
"What?! Our plan is in deep secret, who the hell? Are they Osean or Yuktobanian?"
"Radar has no reception…activate the rear camera, angling, magnify…four F-22As in black…that emblem…it's them! 'Razgriz Squadron'! Survivors of Grabacr Squadron and Ofnir Squadron mentioned about them!" As Alder speaks another wave of twenty-four AIM-120Ds hit Arkbird's rocket engines' nozzles.
"Schenze to Adler, use everything you've got to get rid of them and ascend as fast as possible! They can't pursuit you once you breach mesosphere!"
Blaze leads Razgriz Squadron tightly follow Arkbird, and is attacking it. Just as he launches two AIM-9Xs to the engines, suddenly six fast-moving, self-propelled objects are launched from two openings under Arkbird's fuselage. Each of them resembles an Imperial TIE Defender in shape, while much smaller and are registered as "UCAV" on HUD and HMD. Once launched, these "TIE Defenders" quickly scatter and engage Razgriz Squadron, one occupies attack position behind the squadron and launches an infrared-homing missile to Blaze, he dodges by a barrel roll.
Grimm: "Belkans surely modified it, I don't think space exploration and intercepting ballistic missiles require UCAVs."
Another missile is fired to Blaze, he dodges it again, but not only missiles, to make the matters worse, a dome on Arkbird's belly's center opens, revealing a smaller dome — chemical gas laser.
A beam of pink-colored light sweeps through the space beneath with a loud sound of high-pitch, although not designed to track down fighter-grade targets, but given the destructive power of the laser, one slight graze is more than enough to vaporize a Raptor without leaving any residues — that's why it's called "vaporize".
"Fly above Arkbird!" Razgriz Squadron is struggling to gain altitude, since the laser is mounted on Arkbird's belly, it cannot shoot upwards. But as they rapidly ascend with this aerospace vehicle, airspeed drops dramatically as well as maneuverability and stability, even with Hayabusa Engines working at maximum efficiency — clear indication that service ceiling is not far away.
"We are running out altitude! Quick Blaze! Destroy rocket engines!" Nagase shouts.
"I'm destroying them. Keep UCAVs clear." But Blaze is constantly being harassed by those pesky TIE Defenders every time he gets a lock.
Snow: "Those unmanned fighters are faster and agiler than Scinfaxi's and Hrimfaxi's."
Nagase is after an UCAV, but that machine is evading strenuously to left and right, she cannot align it with her M61A2 Vulcan: "Their maneuverability is unprecedented even compare with high-tier air superiority fighters, Belkans really know how to R&D weapons." She fires AIM-9X, but UCAV suddenly bursts into speed and dashes aside, shakes off the missile.
Grimm: "I bet on tonight's drinks, Grabacr Squadron and Ofnir Squadron must have a hand in programming them."
Nagase continues to pursuit UCAVs. In order to dodge her missiles, one UCAV ignite afterburner, but due to the compact size, the afterburner only can remain active for a short duration before forced to be shut down, results UCAV itself positions right in front of Blaze. Seizing this chance, Blaze immediately targets it and launches two missiles, strangely, UCAV doesn't take any evasive actions, just get destroyed like a sitting duck, seems it is too exhausted by so many dodges previously.
Blaze: "Those drones rely on thrusters and afterburners to maneuver, they must rest up to cool down after several evasive actions, trick them then grab chances to shoot them." However, even the UCAVs can be dealt with, Blaze figures out his armaments are too weak to knock out Arkbird's engines quickly, and if he can't knock these engines, Arkbird will escape beyond their grasp in a couple of minutes. Worse, if Arkbird escapes to an altitude Razgriz Squadron unable to reach, it will fire laser on them.
Grimm: "I feel like we're against an airborne version of Scinfaxi, maybe we need a laser beam or something." He annihilates the last UCAV by two AIM-9Xs.
This is the last chance. Blaze aim on right-side rocket engine units, fire six AIM-120s, two AIM-9Xs and four AIM-9Ms, and fires 20mm slugs continuously, when missiles are reloaded, he fires them again.
An explosion of considerable scale occurs, right-side rocket engine units is blasted into a yellow-colored fireball, then fade into a blob of black smoke and sprinkling debris. Blaze barrel-rolls to avoid debris, simultaneously transits himself to attack position to left-side rocket engine units and starts firing. Sudden loss of half of rocket engines causes Arkbird shakes violently, but it regains balance in seconds and continues its ascension, with a much slower rate.
Nagase: "Rocket boosters destroyed!" As left-side rocket engine units blows up in fireball, smoke and debris. Just as if someone turns off master switch, Arkbird, still retains flight attitude of escaping atmosphere, gradually ceases ascending and begins descending.
Snow: "Luckily our ammunition can stand heat and stream of its flame wakes. Now it's just an ordinary, oversized plane."
"I don't think so, Belkans always have a few tricks in sleeves." Blaze talks to himself.
Alder: "Dammit! They destroyed the rocket boosters! We can't achieve escape velocity!"
Schenze: "Alder, you are aware of the backup plan, right?"
Alder (frustrated tone): "I know, we'll head for nearby Osean territory and drop the nuke." This Plan B also means they will fly into defense grid of Osean military since they cannot approach from orbital altitude, and drops V1 warhead on an Osean city. Even Grey Men may open a safe channel of entry, but they are dead anyways since no one will let them get away with what they commit.
Schenze: "Your sacrifice will never be forgotten."
Arkbird fires up its two in-atmosphere combined cycle engines, which are located above the destroyed rocket boosters, on rear-most of its back.
Grimm: "It changed bearings. It's heading south now."
Snow: "What are they thinking? I have a bad feeling about this."
Nagase: "Where are they…are they heading for Osean territory?!"
Grimm: "We must stop it! If it penetrates into Osean airspace and drops nuke, the outcome will be same as obliterating Okchabursk!"
Nagase: "Blaze! Destroy the two combined cycle engines!"
Blaze locks on both engines and fires four AIM-9Ms, but suddenly Arkbird begins to maneuver radically, all four missiles miss targets.
Grimm: "What?! It's swaying like crazy!"
Snow: "They must be very desperate."
Four hatches on Arkbird's back open, three of them, sets on rear and both flanks of middle, are air-to-air missile launchers, the one in center of its back is an experimental pulse plasma cannon. Arkbird fires at Razgriz Squadron repetitiously with infrared-homing missiles and purple-colored hot plasma charges. If these are not enough, it also sweeps sky beneath it with laser.
Razgriz Squadron retreats further behind, to get themselves larger space for evasive maneuvers against missiles. They are safe from plasma cannon at this distance due to the extremely unstable nature, plasma charges fly slow and disperse into atmosphere as they travel through the air. However their AIM-120Ds are unable to hit any valid targets because of Arkbird's crazy movements, and getting close enough is dangerous for the relentless barrage.
Blaze suggests they should take out laser cannon on Arkbirds belly, so they risk an approach, smash it into pieces by salvos of various models of missiles.
Now the situation as much easier, Razgriz Squadron sways vertically like boats in rough seas, firing at Arkbirds defense emplacements and engine nozzles when they're above it, and hide themselves from incoming fire by flying below its fuselage.
Nagase: "Combined cycle engines destroyed! Arkbird is falling like a stone!"
Grimm: "It should be hurting pretty badly at this point."
Blaze: "Follow it, don't let your guard down until its auxiliary engines are destroyed."
Razgriz Squadron continues to pursuit now incapacitated Arkbird. They don't need to fire a single slug…for now.
Nagase: "Airbird is still descending. 30000 feet to surface."
Snow: "It's barely holding itself together, what a pitiful sight."
Grimm: "Yes, and humans are responsible for it." Arkbird's altitude is reduced to 27000 feet.
Alder: "Impossible…dammit! How can this be?! Stupid machines! Schenze? Schenze! Come in! We lost in-atmosphere engines and all defensive capabilities! Please advise!" No response, and Arkbird, trailing smoke and occasional debris, is falling faster and faster thanks to gravitational acceleration, now it is only 20000 feet above Ceres Ocean and is still dropping faster.
Snow: "Look at that smoke and fragments. It's in its death throes."
18000 feet…16000 feet…14000 feet…12000 feet…10000 feet…8000 feet…6000 feet, suddenly Arkbird pitches up for 45 degrees, seems like a wing-broken bird desperately attempting to return to the sky.
"We're seeing this through to the end! Switches to auxiliary engines!" The center of Arkbird's rear opens, spraying out a wide, long tail of flame to the direction opposite to where its nose is pointing.
Nagase: "Arkbird's fired up its last set of engines."
Grimm: "Fighting with its last breath, huh? Those Belkans just don't quit!"
Blaze: "Guess we need to give it another lift…on its way to the other side."
"Lock on, ぜんだんはっしゃ。" Four Raptors line up horizontally, and simultaneously release six AIM-120Ds respectively. 100% direct hits, Arkbird's propulsion flame perishes with explosions.
Colossal billows are surged up from surface of Ceres Ocean, Arkbird inserts into the surface vertically, rear-first, as if a drowning giant helplessly stretching out arms into sky. Instantly it's dragged by its own weight to the deepest depth of this liquid inferno, followed by a major subaqueous explosion, not from the nuke but Arkbird itself, triggers another series of enormous billows. Razgriz Squadron gleams over the watery grave of Arkbird.
"Lady and gentlemen, this is the end of Arkbird." Blaze opens communication channel to Kestrel: "This is Razgriz Leader. Mission accomplished, confirm target crashing into Ceres Ocean and explodes underwater. Send teams to save Osean astronauts and engineer crew landed on ocean in escape pods and to evaluate fallout."
Wolfgang: "Kestrel copy. Good work, now fly home."
Blaze: "Roger."
Mission Debriefing Room, OFS Kestrel
December 19th 2010, 22:26
"Arkbird's attempt of thermonuclear attack on the city of Okchabursk in Yuktobania had been successfully averted without any casualties. We also rescued Osean astronauts and engineer crew who escaped from Arkbird in escape pods. The Arkbird was knocked down into ocean after attempting to drop nuclear weapon to Osea, according to our evaluation team, no radioactive fallout detected. We cannot achieve such an enormous victory without the brave efforts of Razgriz Squadron, however it's not the proper time to celebrate, since we just received another transmission from Captain Bartlett, stating Resistances had rescued Prime Minister Seryozha Viktorovich Nikanor from custody of Yuktobanian military regime, and were planning to transfer him to Kestrel, therefore Razgriz Squadron is called for. Make the most of your deserved rest and get ready to fly to appointed coordinate at appointed time."
After debriefing, Blaze snatches a few hours to produce a new illustration, titled as "The Hunt for Moby Dick". What on the illustration is indigo-colored sky, Arkbird, and four pursuing Raptors coated in black, with emblems of Razgriz. That piece of drawing will later become famous on internet.