There're two types of people in life: One is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.
And he was the latter.
He was like any common folk. He grew up in a poor neighbor. His family business was somewhat able to get the food on the table.
But the man has a dream, an inspiration.
With a sheer will, and a cunning mind that knows how to please the people who needed to be.
He got what he wants.
A big house.
A fancy car.
A good-looking woman.
He also picked something along the way.
Greed.
And it was something...he needed to fulfill it.
When Ulysses had hit the Earth.
Almost everyone would say it was a catastrophe ever happened to mankind beside the Neuroi.
But to him and a few…it was a golden opportunity.
While the order of food and bandages were demanding, people were also in needed of something to protect themselves when their own government couldn't.
Firearms.
Small and big.
The man had them, and he sold them.
Sold the weapons to the people who needed them to fight.
People with their so-called standard moral would say it's wrong, but what's so wrong about it? When those people claimed they're freedom fighters? When their government had screwed them over, abandoned them for the sake of their convenience?
Moral or not. Legal or not.
It was a kind of basic human need. And he simply fulfilled it.
To him, it was strictly a business.
And it was a good business.
Products came out. Money came in.
The man got what his greed desired.
Wealth.
Power.
Women.
The man had everything.
With all the money he had earned, the man soon rewarded himself with a pleasure trip on the beautiful Tondo Sea. On his own private yacht. With a dozen of beautiful models dressed in skimpy bikini. A variety of choices for him to take them to the bed.
And there's one female that stood out.
She had two-colored eyes, silver color on the left eye and the other was blue. From the look, she was a Liberion-Fuso born.
To be honest, in his mind, she probably was just another harlot.
Until she pulled a 9mm compact pistol from her Victoria Secret.
All the thoughts how he would claim her body were all discarded as he was completely vulnerable, half naked, on bed.
Furious, the man was, however, he had experienced these sorts of situations before so he was not panicky like a pussy. Subtlety, he pressed a secret button placed inside his pillow.
At any second now, his guards would storm into the room and blast that bitch away!
...
However, no one has come to his rescue...
His rising fear was numbing his brain. He tried to learn what's happening, then the walkie-talkie placed on his side bed table started cracking up crazily with multiple voices.
He recognized the voices, they were belonged to his bodyguards. They sounded distress, saying they're under attacked.
Then those voices were abruptly ended, like something had stopped them.
He felt the vibration that shook his private quarter.
The sounds of helicopters along with jets' roaring were mixed up together…
Before he could register what's happening, his room was burst opened. Not by his bodyguards, but by a group of men wearing high-tech tactical gears like commando.
The woman in lingerie simply made way for them to subdue him.
They put a cloth over his face. His hands were roughly put behind his back, then got bonded by plastic handcuffs.
"Target is secured." said a commando.
"Take him to the living room." said the woman.
His heart was beating like a drum, but he tried to stay positive.
After all, they haven't killed him yet.
…
…
After a brief period of time, the covering cloth was soon removed from his eyes.
He was placed inside the living room of his private yacht, on a chair.
Before his eyes, a table was placed in between him and the very same woman, who had seduced him, was no longer in her lingerie.
She dressed in a suit like any office lady. Black blazer, white shirt. Modest looking, yet it showed quite a charm about her.
There were saying: clothes make the man.
Well, the woman, in this matter.
Registering to his surroundings, a single commando stood guard by the door. They wore balaclava and shades, carried an assault rifle with tactical attachments. Their figure was rather...petite.
"You know. You certainly have gone quite a length just to get to me." He asked in a casual tone like he did to his customers. "Why don't you make a call to make a reservation?"
"Time is a luxury which I don't have." The suited woman answered, she then pulled out something from the envelope and spread them over the table.
They're the captured photos of cargo ships. Taken from many angles, even from bird view.
"You recognized these freighters?" asked the woman.
He remained silence once he glanced at those photos.
"These are the ships have launched unmanned drones armed with lethal weapons. They attacked the Liberion and Fuso force while they're conducting training exercises on one of Fuso uninhabited islands."
"Truly? Training exercises during a wartime? And when did this happen?" He asked. Almost sounded like mocking.
"…Six days ago. Only for combat readiness. There're many young recruits." She answered.
"True. The longer the war is, the younger the soldiers are."
"I think that's enough for patronizing."
"Is it?"
"Yes." She said. "No point beating around the bush now. You and I both know those freighters have got your name on it."
"…Alright...those ships are mine." He admitted. "Or were. I received words that one of them was hijacked in by someone and the other was sunk somewhere in the Pacific."
"In my defense, those ships are for hire. Whatever their intention how to use my ships is up to them. Like you book a room of the hotel."
"...true." A corner of her lip went up. "But you wouldn't want them to wreck your beautiful room, because you need it for the next guest. If they find your room is bad, then your hotel reputation is bad, regardless of everything else."
"..."
"And by that very reason. In order not to let anyone to know those ships are used by terrorists, are in fact, belonged to you. You had them sunk by your own fighters…sorry, let me correct that. You had one of your freighters get sunk by a group of mercenary pilots. Because you need to hide that stain."
"Preposterous!" He reacted. "Where is the proof of that?"
She produced a piece of paper from her pocket.
"This is a manifest taken from one of your freighters, before it got sunk by PMC." She revealed. "Unlike the other freighter which quickly destroyed its own manifest, this one has got a sloppy crew."
"..." The man's eyes were furious but he remained collected.
"Not that it will prove you involve with anything. But the Internet would love to get a piece of it. Lately, the war doesn't corner much to them."
"Doesn't concern much..." He repeated, then a smile formed on his face. "Are you aware that we're in the gray water. I heard that there's a hostile fleet run by...radical-minded Fusoans."
"I have taken that into the calculation."
Upon her words, the man heard a distant boom. He looked toward the window, on the horizon. A pillar of smoke was clearly seen.
He even spotted some small fast-moving dots, circling around the smoke column. He assumed those would be fighter jets.
A naval battle was ongoing as they speak.
The commando carrying the weapon occasionally took a glance outside.
But the woman sitting in front of him still focused her two-colored eyes on him, unbothered by the happening.
"Considering that I'm still on my yacht. You're not here to arrest me?" He asked.
"No. I'm not with the Interpol." She answered flatly.
"Ever though I have…traded the weapons?"
"You and many, have traded those weapons. But thanks for giving me such an idea. I'm not with the Interpol, but I do have some friends would love to keep you in their company. According to the law, they are legally to detain you without charge for 24 hours."
"And during 24 hours of you being...inactive. It would certainly give quite a…leverage for your other competitors."
Her words made his face frown. Indeed, in the world of arms, the competition was fierce. One minute late, a business would be already in the hand of somebody else.
The man clicked his tongue.
"Oh, sorry. Did that sting you?"
"Well, I'm more pissed with the fact that I have lost two freighters for no reason."
"Said the one giving those Kalash rifles to those children."
"Said the one with the Witch." He countered, looking at the petite bodyguard. It didn't take much for an educated guess.
"They've made their choice." She said it firmly. "Your victims? They didn't."
"I didn't put those rifles into their hands. Their fathers, their brothers, even their mothers…they're the one who did it." He retorted.
"Personally, I prefer they shoot my guns. But I prefer they shoot and miss. But as long as they keep shooting my guns."
"…"
"..."
The man soon gave in.
"What do you want?" He asked.
"Your customer's address. Preferably, your customer name too."
\/ /\ \/
« Omega 11 has bailed out from his plane. I see his chute. » Omega 2 reported. The Omega squadron has lost a plane, but not their pilot.
« Roger that. Search and rescue helicopter is on its way. » Sky Eye reassured.
« He really got too close to that cruiser. » Archer said.
« It's a miracle that he didn't get shot into pieces. » Fencer added.
« Well, Omega 11 got the big luck than the rest of us. » Omega leader gave a small laugh.
« But not his plane. » Fencer remarked.
« That vessel isn't giving up anytime soon. » Archer look out from the cockpit, seeing the rebel cruiser was blazing the whole sky with tracers.
A few minutes after the ARRF-affiliated fighter's first strike into this rebel fleet, the China-built cruiser was the remaining vessel, surrounded by its allied burning and sinking destroyers.
Even so, the cruiser crewed by the radical-minded militaries stubbornly put up their defiant spirit by firing their CIWS installed on the ship.
A number of missiles locked on and released, but them were all destroyed by hails of bullets before they could reach the target.
« This is Sky Eye to all units. That cruiser's Gatling guns are trashing your missiles. » AWACS said. « You need to overwhelm them. We have calculated the optimum course to take for the saturation attack. »
Soon, every plane of 108th Task Force received updated data on the HUD, marking the starting point to perform the air strike.
« Mobius 1 will take the lead. »
« Wilco. I have my big gun right here. » replied the pilot bearing a ribbon emblem on his sleeve.
Unlike to other allied planes that equipped jet engine that could go supersonic, Mobius 1 was flying a particular aircraft which was using twin-turbofan engine.
In term of dogfight with other aircraft, it was an unsuitable one, obsolete and ugly as hell.
But when attacking the ground targets, this aircraft was literally a hell maker.
The official designation for it was A-10 Thunderbolt II, however, most pilots would prefer it as: Warthog.
GAU-8 30mm Avenger rotary cannon was what this plane carrying it.
Highly stable at low speeds, it specializes at extended and devastating low-altitude ground clearing on enemy formation in a single attack approach.
Simply put: This ground-attack fighter is equipped with tough armor and a large Gatling gun.
When it could kill tanks, about the ships?
Whatever the barrel was pointing at it, it became a fair game.
Mobius 1 certainly felt he was lucky to be able to grab this by chance when the order of sortie came in.
« All Task Force 108 aircraft, prepare for saturation attack by following Mobius 1's lead. »
« Here we go. » Mobius 1 said.
« We with you, Mobius 1. » Green Tail 1 said.
All allied fighters initiated the attack from multiple angles.
Once them have reached the approximate distance, all cannons roared along with missiles released.
« All planes, fire! All planes, fire! » And here's where Mobius 1 brought the 'liberty trademark' to the rebel ship.
BBRRRRRRRRRRRRTTTTTT! ! ! !
« Firing anti-ship missile! » Archer said, releasing special weapon.
« Hit. Damn it! » Fencer cried out, firing all her remaining missiles.
Like in the past when one ship suffered damage by a salvo.
That was exactly the reenactment of it. The entire ship was promptly cut in half by the attack.
« The rebel cruiser sunk! » Sky Eye announced.
...
...
Once the suited woman got what she wanted, she soon removed herself from the chair and take a leave as her bodyguard followed.
Before the woman walked through the door, something had caught her eye.
"Oh?"
A certain wine bottle was placed on the stand. It's vintage-looking, given how the old, moss-stained label was proudly presented.
"I see that you've got a good eye." The man was impressed. Mostly his girls or some easy-minded partners would never notice it. "Eighty years old. My great grandfather had received it as a gift."
Ignoring his story, the woman casually took it in as her prize.
Before he could voice his protest, she said this.
"Consider this is the service fee."
"…You sure have rated yourself an expensive one."
It's a subtle insult, however, the woman simply formed a smirk on her face.
There're two type people: One is not getting what you want, the other is getting it.
Today, he was the former.
"Oh, by the way." She looked back to him once more. "There's a Witch would like to send her regards. She was in the freighter which was sunk by the missiles."
Following her words, the very petite bodyguard turned around toward him, unveiling her balaclava. She was a young girl with silver hair, blue eyes, wearing a blue ribbon.
With the assault rifle in her hand, pointing at the man's direction. The silver-haired pulled the trigger, long enough to unload every bullet from the magazine.
\/ /\ \/
I felt asleep?
I questioned myself when I opened my eyes, seeing the metal ceiling that soon becoming a familiar sight.
This close-spaced quarter was designated as my room. To me, it's lucky that I have a room for my own.
I must have fallen asleep while I was trying to write a draft for my story.
At least I felt refreshed.
However, I found my legs were kinda numb. I looked down, there was something, big and heavy…
I unveiled my blanket and…before my very own eyes…there lied a beauty who was sleeping soundly right next to me.
…sliver hair, a bit…small…wait. Mobius 2?!
What is she doing my room?
Not only that, her outfit was…well...
She was not naked, fortunately. The girl wore silky sexies, a type of military-issued undie.
Did she somehow sleepwalk and entered my room by accident?
While drifting in my own thought, her eyes were opened.
She looked at me with her usual sleepy face.
"…good morning." I greeted.
"…ello to you too."
As soon as she said it in a funny sleepy way, she thudded her head back down right on my thigh, like she was using my leg as a pillow.
Hey. Hey, isn't this kinda a bit much? I mentally thought as I signed.
I tried to wake her up.
But before I get to do that…my door was burst open.
"There she is!" The twin-tailed redhead, Rico exclaimed.
My heart almost jumped out of the window. Maybe by some…complications about FBI bursting the door open to arrest the pedophile, but Mobius 2 here is already at her mature age, right? Right? Right?!
However, what next was that she and the rest of her members stormed in, ignoring my own state of dress.
"You are not going to escape this time!" Rico said.
"No escape!" Amber repeated.
Mobius 2 was soon be placed in Wild Badgers' custody.
"How silly…" The sleepy silver-haired mumbled.
"Keep doing that and I will toss you straight into the solitary!"
Before the Wild Badgers could lead Mobius 2 out of the room, I asked them.
"Uhm…where are you guys taking her?"
"To the sick bay. For the magical aptitude check up." Blake answered. She then took a look at me. "…nice legs."
I reflexively covered them up with my blanket.
…
…
"Alright, summon your familiar, please."
By the doctor's words, Mobius 2's whole body was glowing dimly as her wings-like pair and dove tail emerged.
Mobius 2 was soon put through a certain CT scan machine.
I believe it was a compulsory procedure for every combat Witch after they've accomplished a mission. Long or short, no exception.
When a witch reached the age of 18, it was when her magic started showing signs of decline. In order to avoid sudden and needless death for the Witches if their magic suddenly gone in the middle of combat, this was the way.
After a moment, the result soon came out.
"It's green. As usual." Sigi, the female doctor in charged revealed the result.
She was a Karslander, with her platinum blonde, medium hair. Judging from her young, mature-looking face. I'd said she's about in her late 20s.
Even with her lab coat, she was able give off present her well-proportioned body and nice long legs as she was sitting cross-legged on her stool.
"See? Why bother doing it?" Mobius 2 still responded with her lazy character.
"Why you…" Rico balled her fist.
"What happens if it's red?" I asked.
"More like orange." Sigi chuckled. "If a Witch hit the orange bar, she will be immediately sent back to the rear. And from that point on, she will receive an honorable discharge. Or she can continue in the service as an instructor for new recruits."
"Ugh…reminds my worst days back then." Rico and others made a long sigh.
"Aye." Even Mobius 2 agreed. There was a grim look on her face.
"That will be all for today, girls." The doctor bid her farewell as she moved herself into the room next door.
Behind the opened door, I caught a sight of two peculiar girls, younger than most of everyone here, even the Witches.
When I first saw them being carried out of the helicopter, my heart sank.
I learned that they're rescued from the insurgent base on that island.
They're Civilian Witches, meaning they're not affiliated to any armed forces. Just ordinary girls have awakened their power one day.
Unfortunately, those girls have been kidnapped by insurgents who wanted to utilize their Witch power.
Against their will, those poor girls have been used as 'batteries' for the cloaking magic device.
Forced them work to the bone like slaves. The two sisters here have supplied their power to the machine in rotation, 12-hour work shift, day after day, again and again, for nearly three months since the day they were put on that island.
Fortunately, the girls' lives were not in danger. As soon as they arrived on Mirai, they're immediately received proper medical treatment and nutrient supplements.
Now they're looking much better and lively, the younger one was in a steady recovery.
The older one whose face was wrapped up in bandaged...when she noticed me, she immediately threw at me with an icy glare, or rather, at Mobius 2 who was standing next to me. She placed herself right before her little sister, like a mother protecting her child.
The door then automatically closed, ending the episode.
"What happened...?" I asked, with a bit hesitant.
"I guess I was being a…dumbass." She answered in her normal tone simply made me curious. However, I did not press the matter.
"…"
At the same time, I was unaware how Rico and the others simply remained their silence.
\/ /\ \/
Nowadays, the invention for the machine to be operated with magic wasn't a wild idea. But to put the Witches to be used in such way. How horrible.
However, the thought that they manage to get such a device was a big question.
Where do they get financial supports?
Where did those drones come from?
Are they Erusea-affiliated?
Questions come with more questions.
The Fuso and Liberion were investigating that matter. Hopefully, a contact of mine could shed some light for that in a few days.
When I engaged this topic to the sailors and soldiers on board, most just shrugged their shoulder and simply said.
"As long as we get kill to them all, then we'll have nothing to worry about."
If it's such easy…
"Yo, Jay-man." A sailor called out to me. "The Commodore wants to see you."
…
…
Commodore Hayate.
Not only she was the captain of the ship Mirai, but she was also the commanding officer of 108th Task Force.
Hexer, was her callsign.
She was a Liberion-Fuso born, and she was formerly a Witch, joined the US Navy since 2005. After her magic was dismissed, she continued her military service, and rose through the ranks. She was one of the few hand-picked by NUN Council to command the peacekeeping force.
Despite her young age, she earned a good respect among her men and Witches.
Still…a 'slave driver'. That's what I caught hearing from the pilots and sailors by chance.
Today, we simply had a normal conversation about my well-being on Mirai and few chatting topics. She then asked me to hand over all of my photos. She and her MPs were quite throughout in finding my photos whether they're sensitive or not, they certainly didn't want me to send them to my agency without their permission.
The attack on the insurgent island base was remained a secret from the public eye. I personally felt that we should tell the world about these insurgents have done to those poor girls.
However, Commodore Hayate pointed out those two girls have suffered enough, she didn't want them to be exploited by the media.
At some point, I had to agree with her.
People nowadays were…spoiled. They took things for granted.
In the past, Witches earned the greatest respect from mankind.
In this day of age though, they became the subjects of…controversy. The old guards, and young generation would rather have them stay at home, let alone joining the army and fight the war.
They wanted to undermine the Witch's value, to the point that they turned to some individuals, who were disgusted by many…by a whole world in fact. They revalued and deemed them as…worthy.
One exemplary example was Trevor Maloney. He was a Britannian Air Chief Marshall who hated the Witches so much that he created Warlock, a prototype mecha war machine powered by a Neuroi core. He had hoped to use it as a trump card to fight the Neuroi and replaced/disbanded the Witches at the same time. Unfortunately, his Warlock turned on human as soon as it's corrupted by the alien core.
For his crime, he became a hated figure on the history page, but today, his deed was being reevaluated through a few arguably essays and lingered on a certain type of medium on the Internet.
#TrevoyMaloneydidnothingwrong.
Memes. They made so much noise than some kid crying in the plane or in the restaurant.
Life sure became some sort of comedy.
"Would this anger them so much that their work was all for nothing?" I asked.
"I think you have the wrong assumption about the Witches." She said.
"Back in the Neuroi War, none of them was thirst for glory. Even as a former Witch, I can't say for all them, but I believed that in their heart and mind. They simply wanted to protect their loved ones. The Witches today though…they just wanted to make a difference in their life. Not to be bonded by the family's wish, get into some setup marriage to a partner that she never met."
"I guess that wisdom came along as they're growing up." I said.
"Growing into a mature, is one thing. But being one, is entirely different." She said.
She looked over her shoulder, checking a captured photo of her younger self, while she's still a Witch, wearing F-14 Striker Unit.
"The girls of 108. They're still young, and have many things to learn. And they have a lot of time to grow."
"..."
"That will be all for today. Thank you for your time."
\/ /\ \/
"And then I was like: Go. Go. Go! Get your asses down there!" Rico said as she was reenacting the scene action with her hand signal.
"So that you can take the whole seat for myself." Amber said.
"Shut up! Everyone all appreciated my gun support."
"Cut through everything with a minigun sure is something." A Marine said.
""Oooohhh!"" The sailors exclaimed.
Having their free time, Rico and the other Wild Badgers decided to retell the story about their recent operation to Mirai's crew in the mess hall.
"Hey. Hey. You're spoiling it!" Rico stopped the spoil boy. "Right…where was I…oh right!"
"After the team have dropped onto the ship, they quickly apprehended the workers on deck and gathered them at one place." She continued.
"The VTOL which was carrying me. We circled around the ship a few times…and then…by the bridge's balcony, a couple of guys rushed out, each carried RPG and start shooting at us!"
"Beep! Beep! Beep! The system's alarm goes wildly when the rockets were coming at us."
"I immediately opened fire. My bullets cut through everything! Even those RPG warheads, blasting them right in mid-air!"
"Yeah, I remembered how she sweep through the entire second floor with her minigun." A helicopter pilot said.
"But they're bunch of crafty bastards. Hid that AA gun right in one of those containers."
"If we weren't onboard, you guys were pretty become mince meat."
"Aye." A Marine agreed.
They remembered how the Witches bravely put up their magic shield, protecting the soldiers from incoming fires from small arms and the said AA gun.
"And I destroyed that AA gun instantly."
"True, you did. Sadly, you then got thrown out of the game." The Marine said.
"Hey!"
"What? What? How?" A young sailor asked with full attention.
"An RPG almost hit them if it wasn't for the pilot quickly pulled it away." One of the girls, Blake, explained, remembering that particular event in the heat of shootout.
"Rico didn't hook herself with the safety rope so... Weeeeee~"
Amber mimicked the sound effect of cartoon dropping as her hand dropped from a height and…
"Splash! Our leader hit the water. I said again. Our leader has hit the water."
Her reenacted words prompted everyone to laugh.
"As if it wasn't bad enough." A Marine continued the story. "Some guy with the power suit appeared."
"Straight out from that sci-fi movie."
"Good thing Mobius 2 was with us so she neutralized it quickly with her Panzerfaust." said the helicopter pilot.
"Then the power suit's destruction torn open up the whole deck of the ship pretty nicely." Amber's hands gestured the explosion.
"That explosion pretty much blocked our path to the ship's interior."
"Before everyone knows it, Mobius 2 decided to go in all by herself."
"She got it easy. She descended herself down inside the ship like a helicopter with her Striker."
"Boy, I'm so jealous. You guys get more action than us." Another Marine said. "Our raid on the other freighter wasn't that big. The crew quickly surrendered."
"There were some happy triggers, but Esteri team quickly took the fun out of us."
Everyone turned their face toward two certain Witches who were enjoying their own drink. One could pretty much guess how those two got their TAC name.
"You're welcome." Coffee said, sipping her own...coffee cup.
"But boy, those two missiles really came out of nowhere and hit us."
"They struck at the ship though." Violet remarked.
"We thought we'd lost Mobius 2 when the missiles struck."
"Almost gave us a heart attack when we didn't get her respond over the radio or anything, not until the last moment she flew out of there when the ship was nearly submerged."
"If I have the ability to float myself on water than those rebels would have a hell to pay." Rico said, feeling pissed in that moment.
"Too bad we don't have any water-based Witch." A crew said. "But why seeing you turn yourself into some ship girls would be awesome."
By his words, many formed a certain…idea in their head.
"Witches doesn't surf." Rico said. "Let alone some...Striker that can...walk on water."
"Walking on water like...Jesus…or Jesusette." Amber said.
"..."
"..."
"Oh my god, you're so going to hell for this." Rico was grimaced.
"But Mobius 2 sure quick like a bird." The crew returned back to the topic.
"Well, her familiar is a dove."
"True. But she is quickest than any Witch in combat I've seen before." A Marine said.
"Maybe that's because she didn't any…wind resistance."
With both of his opened hands, they're going down slowly before his upper section of the body, gesturing certain parts that Mobius 2 was…lacking.
"A blessing in disguise."
Every man promptly burst out with their laughter from the top of their lung.
"…" "…" "…" "…"
The men only stopped laughing once they felt the piercing icy gaze from every female personnel, especially the Witches…
…
"Everyone here? Good. Let's get this briefing underway."
The system soon started up, showing the ARRF insignia, and then the abstract graphic of the world map. It zoomed into a section of the Pacific water.
"Before we get into the detail. Tondo and Fuso government extend their thanks for your effort. You have sunk six vessels of the rebel fleet. That would surely give quite an easy time for their maritime defense force and other civilian ships out there."
"Just another day in the office." Mobius 1 said.
The pilots and Witches cheered for his words.
"Alright, back to the topic. After further investigation on the attack drones have launched from the freighters. We have learned of their origin."
The screen showed a certain island that stretched from the northern part of Fuso mainland to the Orussia Far East. A few parts of it were large craters, created by Ulysses.
"We believed that they have come from here, the Choka Island."
"It is a disputed territory between Fuso and Orussia. Luckily for us, the insurgent base is located on the Fuso border."
"A Fuso special force has prepared and readied to go at the moment notice. However, we will be the first one to go in and take out all of base's defense capabilities."
The screen run a short projection clip of the planned attack. There were three defense lines that they have to punch through. 15km was the distance between the first line of defense all the way to the enemy base.
"Further more, a Fuso's squadron will be joining with us."
"The...9th Air Wing?"
"Maybe we'll see that Fuso Witch again." Tea whispered to Coffee.
"Unfortunately, no." The operator revealed. "However, these guys are more…unique."
The map was shifted to a certain icon…or an insignia. It was bearing a shape of a plane with forward-swept wings.
"Joint Test Flying Evaluation Squadron. You can say it's one of Fuso's experimental flights for their prototype aircraft."
"They want to test their new developed Advanced Support Fighter."
The emblem appeared along with the images of the said aircraft promptly gained all eyes in the room.
"ASF-X Shinden II, aka. Magnificent Lightning II." He announced the name.
"They believed that would be a good chance to gain quite a battle data for the Shinden II in this operation."
"So…you're saying that we'll simply roll out the red carpet for them to score the kill?" Fencer frowned.
"More like a friendly competition." He corrected her. "You keep doing best of what you do out there. Don't let them...smoke you."
"That's more like it." Fencer smiled.
"Competition in the middle of battle, you don't get that often." Omega 11 said.
The energy was arising in the room.
"If we lose…well…lesson learn."
From here, the briefer hoped that he would receive some good chuckles from everyone.
Unfortunately, the reality was often disappointing.
As soon as he had said it, the booing immediately tossed right at him.
"Boooo!"
"Get us new planes!" Omega 11 shouted out.
Somehow came with prepare, everyone in the room started throwing ball-sized paper at the briefer.
"Mobius team. Omega squadron. You're up for this!" He skillfully dodged them, at least not letting them land on his face.
"E-Esteri team and Green Tails will be on standby."
An incoming projectile was coming for his face, but he reflexively hit it back with a tablet in his hand. The ball then landed directly on top of a certain silver-haired girl wearing a blue ribbon.
"Oh wow! He's just shot down Mobius 2!" Rico said.
"Definitely would make my résumé colorful. Dismiss!"
\/ /\ \/
Another day, another battle for the 108th.
I wasn't sure that if I was lucky or not. Because I get to sit this one out as well.
However, with the passing words around. I believe that this will be another insurgent base that we would reduce it to rubble.
As I was watching the deck crew making preparations for Omega squadron and Mobius team's takeoff sequence, I noticed something. Something that I should have realized from the beginning.
Mobius team. They're the only pair, a pilot and a witch. Flying together.
As for the other, they're always with the same kind. Witch to witch. Pilot to pilot.
"I hope after this one. We'll finally get a good rest." Rico said.
On the tower, I stood along with Wild Badger girls who won't be participating in this operation.
"I don't know. Even if it we did smash this one. Another will take its place." Blake was showing her gloomy altitude.
"How the hell you get so…pessimistic like that?" Rico frowned.
"Maybe there's a secret society. Controlling our way of life. When the war keeps going, their pocket gets filled."
"Oh, that's dark." Amber said.
"This is…rather different than what I would have imagined." Violet said.
"About what?" I asked.
"War." Violet answered. "What I learned first thing about the war is the Neuroi War. They're the invaders, destroy everything in their path."
"All human have united to fight such common enemy." The purple-haired continued. "But now, this war. It's hard to tell who was the aggressor and who was the victim."
"…"
"…"
"Have you been listening to that…Princess pirate broadcast?" Nico asked.
"Well… a little bit…" She confessed. "Please-don't-tell-anyone!"
Violet's pledging managed to save herself from any earful lecture. Especially from their commanding officer.
"Human conflict...is rather a complicated matter." I said.
"It's always a complicated matter, kids." A dark-skinned soldier who was the armorer stood next to us spoke up. "But do yourself a favor and just leave that to the politicians. We are peace keepers, and this is our job."
"...Hey, if those Neuroi would ever return. Can you fight them?"
Perhaps my question was rather unexpected. The Witches silently looked at each other, until Rico smiled with confident.
"When it comes to that, then we'll find out."
Me and the girls then silently watched Mobius team took off from the runway.
...
MISSION 3
BLINDMAN's BLUFF
1043hrs. August 24th, 2019
Choka Island dispute (Fuso/ Orussia) / / 50° 69′ 10" N 142° 95′ 06" E
Cloud Cover: Broken
Operation: Magic Spear
\/ /\ \/
« I can't believe that it'd been a whole week since that Scooping operation. And we still haven't dock in Fuso yet. » Omega 11 spoke up.
« What do you mean, we did dock in Fuso. » Omega 2 said.
« Does not apply when we only docked at the US naval base. That doesn't count. Further more, we were on standby. » He said, sighing. « Boy, our Hexer sure is a slave driver. »
« When she took the witches and a commando team to elsewhere, we immediately get our ass hauled to fight a rebel fleet. »
« It's sure indeed that was stressful. » Mobius 1 agreed.
« Not you! » Omega 11 promptly remarked.
« You get to fly the Hog when I still stuck with my Rafale. »
« And you turned it into a Helvetia cheese. » Mobius 2 countered.
Her words roused the 'OOoooh' from the allied fighters.
« …Guilty as charged. » The Britannian pilot groaned.
« Well, I have switched back to my F-14 now. » He defended as he was flying the said aircraft. « Speaking about planes, I'm more concerned about my little sis's Striker here. »
He eyed over the blue-colored F-4 Striker.
« My Striker is fine. » The silver-haired Witch curtly replied.
« A Super Hornet would be a nice change. » He pressed on.
« This is Sky Eye to all units. Remember, we do not have the clearance to fly over Orussia air space. So watch your radar. Their SAM will lock onto you the moment you flew pass over the border. »
« Isn't this island belonged to the Fuso? » Omega 2 asked.
« It was. Until the Orussia rolled in after the Ulysses Event with the pretext to aid the population. » explained Omega 5, who had a quirk of being a historian.
« Official paper was there, but then back and forth with Fuso changing government and its conservative party. It somehow turned into a disputed territory. »
« Speaking of Orussia, aren't they having their own civil war going on right now? » Omega 2 continued.
« That's the rumor. Sadly, their Iron Curtain is still up. »
« With the whole continent going crazy over with Erusea, the Orussia still remains a neutral country that isolated from the rest of the world? I don't buy it. » said Omega 11. « For one, they're pro-Erusean. They're supportive when Erusea declared war on Liberion. »
« So that explained why half of Erusean equipment and aircrafts were Orussian-made. » Omega 2 realized the fact. « Do you think Orussia would join Erusea later on in this war? »
« Heh! If that's the case, we're super screwed. » Omega 5 came with a small laugh.
« Or maybe the Orussia has played this as their proxy war. » Mobius 1 joined in.
« Proxy war... » Mobius 2 muttered.
« Crush the Liberion to the ground! » Omega 11 quoted the Erusea's anti-Liberion quote.
« Oi. Oi. Keep your topic in check. » Omega leader called out. « I'm more concerned about this experimental flight though. Are they good or not? »
« Giving some targets for them to score would be a nice gesture. » Sky Eye said.
« If the pilot is female. Then I'm a 120% would do it. » Omega 11 declared.
Soon, everyone's radar picked up something.
« I've got two blips on radar. IFF is responding. » Omega 1 reported. « They're friendly. »
The flying Witch looked over her shoulder, noticing two fast closing silhouettes.
« Here they come. »
Following Mobius 2's words, two dark-colored aircraft with gold outliner flew passed over the 108th fighters.
Shinden IIs, they're certainly bearing a kind of futuristic design.
Forward-swept wing like Su-47.
Twin-engine with over and under design.
After the Ulysses Disaster, the Fuso has lost the means to design and produce aircraft that would bear the characteristic of their nation. Only able to produce the planes under Liberion's license.
However, after many years of tribulations and trials, the ASF-X Shinden IIs were Fuso's highly ambitious project and the solution for their deterrence capability.
« *whistle* Now that is one sexy plane. » Omega 11 commented.
Mobius 1 spotted the emblem of a skull facing side way with wing.
« Nice emblem. » He said.
« This is Joint Test Flying Evaluation Squadron affiliated to Fuso Air Defend Force. Callsign: Zero 2 of Zero team. » said a female Fuso pilot.
« Oh nice! It's a girl! » Omega 11 exclaimed with glee.
« This is ARRF-affiliated AWACS Sky Eye. I'll be directing combat aps for all active aircraft. » The AWACS reported in. « Good to have you onboard. »
« Hey, might we can get a chance to fly those aircraft? » Omega 11 asked over the radio.
« If you let us rack up the kill, then you might. » A certain gruff male voice spoke up casually with his Australis's accent.
« H-hold up! You're not a Fusoan. »
« Nope. Just an immigrant who was lucky enough to land into this program. Name's Viper. Yoroshiku (Nice to meet you). »
« Hoho! Watch out guys. Looks like we've got a badass over here. »
...
...
So these're the one the we will work together? More like a bunch of cowboys. Zero 2, aka. Edge silently thought.
She then noticed something was flying next to her. She was completely taken by surprised, seeing a young silver-haired girl, wearing a blue ribbon on her head. Clapping around both of her legs were a blue-colored Striker Unit, F-4 model.
« You're a Witch… » Edge spoke up.
« Is there a problem? » Mobius 2 asked.
« Oh, sorry! I didn't mean to disrespect you. It's just that...my little sister is also a Witch as well... »
« …Is she on the front line? »
« Fortunately, no. She's a Civilian Witch...however, she did go wild with that racing though. »
« Oh, that Witch racing? »
When the civilization advanced, the need for a new kind of entertainment was often sought out.
Sky Race. A newly founded type of sport for the Witches to race in their customized Striker Unit.
It's believed that it was created by none other than Charlotte E. Yeager, aka. Glamorous Shirley, or The Queen of the Speed. She was the first Witch and the first person on Earth who broke the sound barrier.
Bonneville Salt Flats was the place where Shirley organized the first Sky Race for herself and other retired Witches after the Neuroi War.
Inspired from the graduating test for Witches in the training camp. Passing through obstacles. Shooting the targets in a limited time.
It was a thrilling, breath-taking experience to every spectator.
Since then, it rapidly became a phenomenon and attracted many young Witches who had awakened their power in their early teen. It's a sport for the world to watch.
Even in times of war, the human can always find a way to distract themselves.
« I see. Sounds like she's a handful. » Mobius 2 said.
« Indeed... She always wants to stick with me. »
« Heh. »
Hearing her brother's snicker, Mobius 2 asked.
« What? »
« Uhm-uhm, nothing. »
« But how come there's only you? Where is your wingman? » Edge asked.
« I'm with him. » Mobius 2 pointed her finger toward the F-14 bearing a same ribbon emblem.
A team consist of a witch and a fighter together? Nagase was finding it's hard to believe.
« Ribbon? That's one stupid emblem. » Viper said.
« … »
Viper noticed the silver-haired Witch was giving him a dagger-glare.
« What? »
« Six hundred meters to the first line of defense. » Sky Eye updated.
It was then all combatants discarded whatever thought in their mind and turned themselves into the fighter pilot.
« Targets are in range. » AWACS finally broke the silence.
« All units. Commerce the attack! »
« Mobius 1. Engage! »
« Omega 1. Fox 3. »
The entire defense installation was bombarded by air-to-ground missiles. The stunned and disoriented insurgents who survived the attack only looked at the planes above flying pass their checkpoint one by one.
« Good job. We've broke through the first line! »
« Keep an eye on your altitude while you're striking the ground targets. » AWACS gave the advice.
« We also have picked up some vehicles equipped with anti-air radar. Destroying them would bring easy time for the special force. »
« I see it. The radar car on your twelve, Omega 5. » Omega 1 radioed in. « Hit it! »
« It's an air raid! They're going for the radar car! GET OUT OF— » The rebel's voice was cut off abruptly when the missile struck.
« Viper to Edge. Activate the Tactical Datalink. »
« Copy. Connecting. » Zero 2 replied.
There's a saying: Two was better than one.
Or the more the merrier.
It's incorporating sensor fusion tech installed on Shinden II. The system would work in tandem to enhance the whole squadron attack power.
Simply put: The Datalink will boost the weapon's accuracy, reload speed, firepower and a hell of a lot more.
« Datalink activated. » Edge said.
« Good. Maintain your distance as you approach, Edge. »
« Edge, copy. »
Side by side, the pair of Shinden IIs dived down, attempting to make low-altitude attack on ground targets.
« Viper. Engaging. »
« Edge. Engaging! »
Synchronizing together, the two Shinden IIs performed the attack flawlessly. No AA gun or SAM could fire before them did.
« Look at them go! » Omega 11 was impressed, seeing the maneuver they've pulled.
« Like lightning. » Mobius 1 said, seeing the name was fitted.
« Tactical recon data updated. » Edge read out her instrument.
« Enemy installation in the area destroyed. Proceed to the next target point. » Sky Eye gave the directive while he was giving new data to all units.
« If you can't hit from where you are. Reposition yourself and attack from another direction. » Viper gave the advice to his wingman. His lesson may apply to the others if they're interested in hearing it.
« Slow and steady wins the race, and all that. »
« I like that. » The Witch agreed. Just like when she does things at her own pace.
« We are passing the second defense. » Sky Eye updated.
« Mobius 2. You're not joining the fight? » asked Omega 2, who noticed the Witch was maintaining her flying altitude, in fact, she did not fire a single shot yet.
« Don't worry about me. You guys go and have fun. » She said it out flatly.
Witch was never used as some ground attack vehicle anyway.
« Mobius 2! Incoming missile. Invade! » Edge cried out.
The Witch did not follow the call. Instead, she pointed her machine gun toward the flying arrow and opened fire.
Following a burst of fire, the missile was exploded in mid air.
« Sugoi... (Awesome...) » Edge was amazed.
« Okay, now I having a flashback with that battle cruiser from the other day. » Omega 11 grimaced.
« I guess an ace like you come in all sizes and shapes, eh? » Viper said.
« Mobius 2. Make yourself useful by keeping an eye on those two prototypes. It'd be a nice gesture to do so. » Sky Eye gave the directive.
« Affirmative. »
« You've broke through the last line of defense. Now attack the base. »
All fighters along with the Witch increased their afterburner, charging through the exit of the canyon.
The scene before them unfolded into a natural lake, some facilities were built around it.
« Omega leader to all units. Hit them hard! »
...
...
Three minutes after the attack started, the secret insurgent base was bathing in flame and smoke. All AA gun emplacements along with military vehicles were reduced to scrap metal.
« It's no use! The fire is spreading. We have to get out of here! » A distress voice was heard on the opened channel.
« Seem like they're abandoning the place. » Mobius 1 scanned the scene, seeing a dozen of rebel making a run on foot.
« Things are going well. » Omega 5 said.
« Don't jinx it. » Omega 11 said, feeling the episode.
« Attention all units, I have made contract with the Fuso special force. They will be arriving in… » There was a sudden pause. « Wait…What's this? »
« Alert! » Sky Eye's voice promptly gained the attention. « We have fast approaching bogeys. Too small to be aircraft though. »
« Oh blimey! You jinxed it! » The Britannian pilot called it.
« ...there're at least dozens of them on my radar. Coming in hot! »
« They're drones. » Mobius 2 confirmed with her visual. She estimated about two squadrons strength, each consisted of 12 UAVs. They were the same ones that attacked them on the island.
« Again? I'm starting to hate those guys! » Omega 2 groaned.
« Edge. Keep close to me. » Viper made sure his wingman doesn't stray far away from him.
« Sky Eye, what do we do now? » Mobius 1 asked.
« Standby. I'm contracting Mirai. » The communicating came to a momentary halt.
« Ugh! There're so many of them. » Edge felt overwhelmed by the number.
« Don't panic. » Viper said, bringing a sense of calmness to her. « Just imagine they're somewhat clever moving target practices. »
« Sounds about right. » Mobius 1 agreed.
Zero 2 soon recollected herself and started to examine the situation closely.
« They looked similar…are those…Quoxs…? » Edge noticed the similarity on the craft's design.
« They look ominous. » Mobius 2 commented. « That's what Ice Tea has said. »
« ...uhm, who? » Edge was confused.
« Attention all aircraft. » The AWACS returned to them. « The game plan is unchanged. Continue to maintain air superiority. »
« You just love saying that word, huh? » Omega 11 said.
« It's not as greedy as it sounds, Omega 11. » Sky Eye countered. « If we don't take out those drones, they will attack the incoming Fuso force. »
« Uso! (No way!) » Edge's exclaim could be heard. The shock was quickly changed into anger. « Saseru ka! (Like I'll let you do that!) »
« Calm down, Edge. » Viper tried to calm her.
How could she? They're her countrymen, and they're about walk into the death trap!
« We do need some back up here! » Omega 5 cried out.
« Green Tails and Esteri team are on their way. But I doubt they would make it in time. » Sky Eye spoke the grim fact. « Put up you're A-game here, everyone. Shoot them all down. »
« You heard the man. » Mobius 1 said. « Let's turn this into the shooting gallery! »
His encouragement soon received with the spirited laughter.
« Yeah! »
« We're with you, Mobius 1. »
« Omega 1 to all units. Break formation! » Omega 1 commanded his squadron, bringing them into the air battle fighting the drones.
« Same as before. High G-turn. »
« Stay focus. Don't get shoot down. » Sky Eye made sure that everyone focused the matter at hand. He really didn't want to report the casualty.
« Damn! I should have brought extra fuel. Now I don't have enough to engage another air battle. » Omega 11 whined.
« Omega 11, you know the drill. » Omega 1 called out to him.
« Nay, I'm still good! Can take a few drones down before I switch to reserve. »
« Or bailout. » Mobius 2 added.
« Oi! I don't plan on walking home! » Omega 11 protested. « But I'll gladly to take up your taxi offer. »
« … » Her annoyed sigh could be heard.
« I'm kidding! »
« I guess they're still a bunch of nuggets down there. » Viper said to himself.
« Mobius 2. Keep an eye on the Zero team. » Sky Eye repeated the Witch's objective.
« ...Wilco. » Despite the respond, she would rather engage those machines though.
In the mix of roaring jet engine and explosions in mid-air, the repeating missile warning and radio noises, the Witch picked up something, something that rather didn't belonged in the battlefield.
« Hmm-hmm-hmm-hmm~hmm~ »
A humming?
« Was that a civilian radio broadcast? We've got quite a lot of noise up here. » Omega 11 said.
« Are these drones remote-controlled? It feels to me like there's a man inside it. » Edge voiced her opinion, seeing how agile the drones were, and they're quite smart not letting themselves to be get locked on.
« Well, they do look pretty advanced, I give you that. » Viper agreed. « And they're pulling some funky maneuvers. »
A drone swooped pass Mobius 2, in that moment, she caught a glimpse of a certain emblem printed on the drone's body.
Butterfly?
« The system data is updating. Tactical link data still stabilizes. » Edge said. « Break right, bandit on Captain's tail. I'm on it. »
« All right. Not bad. » Viper grinned.
The target was locked on in her radar.
« I have lock. Kurea! (Eat this!) » She fired the gun.
Not a moment too son, the projectiles torn through the metallic craft, rendering an explosion. It was a resounding kill, however, with the high-speed pursuit, she was closing in too fast to the recent occurred explosion.
As soon as she had passed through the dark ball-shaped smoke, her system promptly sounded off the warning.
Then her plane's nose started to dive down.
« Damn! My engine is…! »
« Edge! What's your status? » Viper said. « Talk to me. »
« Ugh! » She tried her best by pulling her plane's nose up.
Her bad luck didn't stop there, the HUD showed a new warning that she was being locked on.
« Uso daro! (You're kidding me!) »
When Edge thought that this was it, the drone was intercepted and destroyed by the Witch's machine gun from above.
« Steady now, Zero 2. » Mobius 2 arrived next to her.
« Your wings in intact. The rudder is fine too. Leaving a bit trail of smoke though. » The Witch examined the status of the plane as she made a circular maneuver around Edge's plane. « Some shrapnel must have entered the front air intake and damaged your engine. »
After a few button pressing, Edge finally leveled her Shinden back in the air.
« I have my plane back in my control now. Thank you, Mobius 2. » She said.
« Edge to Viper. I have my plane back in control. » She reported the plane status to her flight lead. « The other instruments are still A-okay. »
« I suppose that's enough flying for you then. Exit out of the combat zone, Edge. » Viper called it in.
« Shikashi— (But—) »
« Negative. » He interjected. « I know what you're trying to say, but it's no worth the risk of getting shot down in this place. Besides, we have gained sufficient battle data for the Shinden II. »
« I'll stay here to clean out the remaining bandits. Ya head back to base. »
With a resigned sigh, Zero 2 soon complied.
« …Edge, copy. »
« This is Zero 1 to Mobius 2. Sorry kid, can you accompany my wingman back? »
« Negative. » The ribbon Witch curtly replied.
« What? » Viper was rather surprised by the girl's respond.
« Omega 11. You're RTB as well so I'll leave the escort to you. »
« Y-you got it, Ribbon Princess. »
« Princess, huh? » Viper said. « Kids these day. »
« Mobius 2, please refrain from deciding things on your own like that. » While Sky Eye was rather disapproved of her behaviour, but her logic was on point.
« Omega 11. Protect our guest. » Sky Eye gave the objective to him.
« Roger that. » He replied, flying near to the damaged Shinden II. « Come on. Let's get you home safely. »
Zero 2 soon followed Dassault Rafale's lead.
« We should have help them. » Edge growled, feeling frustrated.
« Not to worry, my fair lady. » The Britannian reassured. « Those two are the best of the bests, our aces. Those stupid drones are not going to realize what sort of shit storm they're about to get into. »
His words were hard to believe. However, Edge was soon about to learn why.
The silver-haired Witch approached to her brother's F-14 in a close manner, very close that she could place her hand on the plane body. She then rotated herself around, having the back-to-back to her brother's plane.
« Mobius 1. Ready? »
« Let's go, sis. »
By his words, they charged through the swarm of drones. Both machine guns roared. The calibers cut down every drone within Mobius 1's gun range, as well as Mobius 2's.
« Woah, look at that. »
« It likes…they're dancing… » Edge said, feeling astonished by the Mobius team maneuver.
« Impressive. » said Viper « I guess they're old school. Don't need such tactical data link like we're using. »
One by one, the drones were dropping like flies. Downed by Mobius 1 and Mobius 2's saturation attack.
« The drones are down to 45%. Keep it up. »
After shooting down another drone, Mobius 2 noticed something was flying beneath her. It's a certain flying craft that appeared wanted to avoid the fighting above.
« Hey, what is that? »
« My radar is picking up…It's a…cruise missile?! » Sky Eye revealed an information that took everyone completely by surprise.
« What? »
« A cruise missile?! »
« Where?! »
« Down there, near the ravine. » Mobius 2 pointed out.
« This is Sky Eye to Mirai! We have visual confirmation of a cruise missile is in a flying course. » AWACS frantically contacted the command.
« Who launched it? Don't tell me it's the insurgents? » Omega 2 said. « Where in the world they get those missiles and drones?! »
« Probably stole it from Orussia. » Viper suggested a wild idea.
« They certainly have guarded them well. » Sky Eye made a sarcasm.
« But never mind about that. We still have a chance to stop those missiles. »
« Omega 5 is on it. » Omega 1 reported.
« I have a lock. » said the pilot once his HUD locked on the target.
« Omega 5. Fox 2. Fox 2. »
The heat-seeking missiles were released and soon traveled in their own path.
It was an easy mark. All he needed to do was to watch his missiles getting closer and closer to the cruise missile and prepare to see a big bang...
Or so he thought.
« What the? It has just evaded my missiles? »
What had transpired was the object unexpectedly changed its flying path when the pair of missiles approached closer.
« That is a glider cruise missile. It can be quite maneuverable. »
True to AWASC's voice, the cruise missile did not simply travel in one direction. It had turned itself into a certain flying craft.
« Omega 1. Fox 2. »
Missile traveled, approaching fast to the cruise missile, but it suddenly pulled a zig-zag movement that rendered the missile trashed.
« Oi what the hell. It likes there's a man controlling it! »
« Oh god. There's another one! » Omega 5 pointed out, seeing a second missile.
« And it has drones escort as well! » Omega 2 said, spoting the flight-sized of drones.
« Damn! » Mobius 1 cursed.
« Mobius 1, go get them. I'll cover you. » Mobius 2 said.
« Wilco. »
Mobius 1 soon broke away from Mobius 2 who still maintained her position.
« Hey, kid. You're sure just leave her to feint them all by herself? » asked Viper.
« Don't worry. She is just shy around the strangers. » Her brother said.
« Heh! Guess I'll be joining with ya, ribbon kid. »
The Shinden II joined with the F-14 bearing a ribbon emblem side-by-side.
The escorting drones began to intercept them but they're underattacked by Mobius 2's machine gun.
« I'm over here, assholes. » Mobius 2 taunted the drones.
Held steady in one hand while the other was holding the gun's sling tight, she unleashed hot leads like a CWIS.
...
...
« They look like regular warhead but keep your distance. » Sky Eye gave his advice.
« Mobius 1. Zero 1. Be advised. Computation shows the missiles are course to two targets. One is heading for the Fuso special force. I've already alerted them about the threat. The other is heading for Fuso. Potential target. Fuso Expo City, near to Tokyo. »
« That's the popular tourist place and a new trading city. » Viper felt disgusted that these terrorists have no line to draw. The Fusoans had worked so hard to build from the rock bottom back to the former height where they used to be. And these monsters dare to destroy it? Not on his watch!
« Take them out. »
The two pilots silently complied by increasing acceleration.
« Kid, you take care the left one. I got the right one. »
« Roger that, old man. » The young silver-haired pilot said.
« Give me a break. I'm still young, you know. » He said with a gruff tone.
Shinden II was a multirole fighter so switching from ground attack role to the interception role was swiftly.
The HUD's ring of death slowly moving toward the target like a claw reaching out to grab it.
However, the glider missile continued in an unpredictable zig-zag maneuver.
« Come on baby. Daddy needs a bullseye here... »
As soon as the long beep rung, Viper pressed the trigger.
From here, he silently watched his two missiles tango-ing with the big one until they're collided.
« Zero 1 shot down the missile! » Sky Eye announced, seeing the missile was downed, no sign of detonation.
« Good job baby girl. » He muttered to his sweet craft, then contacted Mobius 1. « How's your end, kid? »
The young pilot did not answer as he was focusing keeping his HUD onto the target. The glider's maneuver was getting more and more erratically, then without a warning, he noticed its afterburner got brighter.
« Alert! The cruise missile has increased its output. It's going vertical! » Sky Eye updated the situation as the cruise missile was flying upward.
« Shoot it down before it reaches critical altitude! »
Mobius 1's F14 retracted its wings, turning into an arrow and started climbing, chasing after the missile.
« Don't let it get away, Mobius 1. »
« Show us what you've got. You're the fastest among us! »
Allied voices encouraged the fighter pilot carrying the blue ribbon emblem.
« 20000 meters. »
Almost there...
« 25000 meters. »
Almost...
« 30000 meters. »
After a few seconds that felt like a minute, the HUD finally made a good long beep.
« Mobius 1. Fox 2! »
Missile was detached from the wing and made the approach toward the target in a matter of seconds.
Following the missile struck. A big white orb appeared all of sudden that almost swallowed UP Mobius 1.
After a shockwave run through violently, Mobius 1 managed to stabilize his plane.
« That was a direct hit. What an explosion! » Sky Eye exclaimed.
« Alright! »
« Beautiful! »
« That was cutting little too close. » Viper gave a soft sigh.
« You're telling me. You had us sweating up here. » Sky Eye admitted.
« Hey, was that good enough data for your aircraft? » Mobius 1 returned to Viper's side.
« It's enough. I'm glad we're partnered with you in this operation. My thanks. »
…
…
Back into the mission control room on Mirai, the crew made a wild cheer and fist bump to each other when the threats were eliminated.
However, Commodore Hayate remained her impassive expression as she was in deep thought.
Unknown unmanned drones. And now it's remote control glider cruise missiles…
Even though it's impossible, but that one particular country name just keeps popping up in my head.
"Belka…wait a minute. What's Mobius 2's status?" She asked the operator.
…
…
« Mobius 2. What is your status? » Sky Eye asked. He felt a bit bad that he had left her to own her device.
« Damn!-Tssk! » They made out the word in the statics.
« Mobius 2? What's wrong? »
« I'm almost out of ammo. And I still have three bogeys remaining on my tail. »
The young girl's annoyed voice quickly placed their mind back to the previous situation where they've left her to feint those agile drones alone.
« Damn! » Mobius 1 cursed.
« Hold on kid, we're coming back for you. »
The F-14 and Shinden II quickly turned their nose around, each was hoping they would make it in time.
…
…
Mobius 2 somehow had strayed herself too far from the occurring battle zone.
No allied aircraft was within her sight.
It's just her and three sinister looking drones.
With another trigger pull, unleashing the bullets into targets, the barrel of the machine gun had turned into a burning hot rod like it just came out from the forge.
The weapon in her hand was soon jammed from overheating.
Out of annoyance, she tossed the weapon right at the lead drone.
It did a little damage on surface as the machine chased continued after her.
They attacked Mobius 2 relentlessly with both auto-cannon and missiles. The ribbon Witch's shield had withstood them all but she couldn't let her be on defensive all the time. She increased her speed, making some distance between her and them.
She aligned her flying path right in front of the lead chasing craft. At any second now, the drone should get a lock on her.
But Mobius 2 had a plan. A reckless one at that.
"Sorry."
Following a soft apologetic voice, the Striker's emergency lever was pulled by the very user. Soon the Unit was unbound from Mobius 2's legs.
With the momentum, the pursuing drones could not evade the objects which were coming toward them in time.
At the very moment the Striker Unit hit dead onto the drones, a powerful explosion occurred. It caused by a reaction between the fuel tank and magic engine upon the impact, swallowing up all three drones.
Mobius 2, who already pulled out her chute, suffered a terrible experience as the shockwave violently hit her, uplifting the chute. It spinned her round and round like a puppet, only to spare her once she started to descend down to the earth in a steady pace.
…
…
« I've got the beacon. Mobius 2 has bailed out from her Striker! » Sky Eye reported.
« She used her own Striker to take out those drones?! » Omega 1 said.
« So reckless! »
« Did anyone see her chute? »
« I see it. I've got the chute. » Mobius 1 reported, seeing the distant chute.
« Goddamn it, kid. You keep flying like that and you'll die real soon. » Viper said.
"I won't die, sir." She calmly responded.
« Jeez, you're like Nagase. You even respond just like her. »
Viper's grunting words only made Mobius 2 chuckle.
« Hold on, I still see something on my radar… » Sky Eye noticed something.
« A stray…damn! It's heading straight for Mobius 2! »
« Shit. Is it intend to kill her in mid air!? »
« Mobius 2! » Her brother called out.
…
…
She realized the situation as she saw the approaching machine.
What she only got now was her 9mm sidearm. This was nothing but egg versus rock.
Regardless, she drew out her weapon while putting up her blue magical shield as she was bracing for the inevitable impact...
Tak-tak-tak-tak-tak! Boom!
Mobius 2 was dumbfounded as she was witnessing the last drone got slashed right before her eyes and it exploded.
Once more, the shockwave violently pushed her away, disorienting her momentary before she was descending down steadily again.
When the ringing in her ears were fading away, a female voice spoke up.
"That's quite a stunt you've pulled it off back there."
A voice? Right behind me. A Witch?
Using her body as a counterweight, she tried to swing herself around to see who's behind her. Unfortunately, the mysterious Witch wouldn't let Mobius 2 do that. She already flanked around her and continued.
"You're pretty good." The voice continued.
Mobius 2 then felt the back of her head was pressed on by something. A finger, maybe. Or it's a gun barrel?
"Too bad, if you're still flying at this moment, then we can see how really good you are."
Soon the mysterious Witch removed her finger from Mobius 2's head.
"Maybe next time then. See ya."
Quickly, the silver-haired rotated herself again, she managed to catch a glimpse of a Witch bearing a gray hair. Her familiar…might be an eagle, seeing the look of the tail and pair of wings on her head. The Striker…it was a Su-37 Terminator. It was painted in dark gray color with yellow liner, and there was a large number emblazoned in the same color on her Striker.
"Thirteen…" Mobius 2 mumbled to herself.
« Mobius 2. Are you alright? What happened? »
"A Witch…" Despite Sky Eye's worried voice, she continued.
"Yellow Thirteen…"
…
There's a certain bar that was favored by the locals.
When the occupation troops settled in our town, it became a popular hangout spot for them. The neighbor was soon disgusted it.
Ms. Auntie, whom I seldomly saw her, was the owner of the bar. Despite everyone in town scorned her for doing business with the enemy, she always put a smile on her face when serving.
As for myself, I began to hanged out in that place frequently, playing harmonica for the soldiers to earn chump changes.
Ms. Auntie was very nice to me. She sometimes gave me her homemade quiches. They were the popular choice of all in the menu. Just don't go for the broccoli soup.
I also...had a crush on her son, who was a little older than me.
One day, out of nowhere, I somehow got employed by Ms. Auntie on the spot when her store was understaffed.
Before I even realized it, I already put my body to work, bringing food and drink to the tables all the way till the bar was calmed in the late evening.
"You really saved our hides, thank you." She said. "Say, how about you work here? You're pretty fast on your feet. My bar surely would gain a lot more customers. Besides, I always love to have a daughter."
By Ms. Auntie's words, her son simply made a sigh, showing an annoyed expression.
"Then, I will be counting on you, big bro!"
When I jokingly called him out like that. It became somewhat a comedy skit for everyone, even the soldiers to enjoy.
~ The girl's diary ~
- Page 3 -