It's been ten hours since the news of Liberion Capital has fallen was made in the air.
Surprisingly, not many people were shocked by it. As if they already saw it was the inevitable.
What they interested was how the Liberion would respond to it.
Go for peace talk? Unlikely.
Go to take it back? Heck yeah!
That answer was confirmed when I overheard the combatants of Task Force 108 that has been sent to Seattle to drive back the attackers, now being sent to Missouri, instead of returning here, despite Commondore Hayate's protest.
The only thing I could do now is trying to find a ride that can take me to the mainland.
\/ /\ \/
New Homestead Airbase, Missouri
1625hrs, September 5th, 2019
"My god…we are servicemen, and we still have to use our money to pay for this vending machine? Talk about the tax thief." Omega 11 said, looking at the machine holding dozens of branded soft drinks.
"Hey, let be serious, IRS is the scariest opponent that even the crazy villain clown guy has to pay them, instead of going against them." Blake said.
"Does that have anything to do with this?"
"Don't forget about the healthcare."
"Uh guys...are you going to buy anything or not?" A Marine asked them from behind.
Omega 11 and Blake looked at the queue before they hurriedly chose the drinks.
After the landing, the members of 108th settled themselves in the cafeteria, recharging the energy with hot chows and drinks before the upcoming battle.
"Looking at how she's sleeping so soundly like that. It makes me quite jealous." Edge said, looking at the said Witch.
Without another word, she poked her cheek, enjoying her cute reaction.
"How much sleep does she need?"
"She is the battery, so that makes her can sleep anywhere. Sorry for the trouble, Yukari." Mobius 1 said.
"Oh no. I don't mind at all." The Fuso Witch happily replied as she's lending one of her thighs for Mobius 2 to sleep on.
"I'm quite that happy Mobius 2 is depending on me more and more."
(Well...in a way.) Her brother thought, looking at how her sister's enjoying the softness of Yukari's figure.
"Mobius 2?" A voice called out.
Everyone turned their head, looking at a certain young brown-skinned pilot with shaved-head.
"That voice…Warwolf 2?"
After Mobius 1's inquiry, the Liberion pilot grinned and greeted them with high energy.
"Hey hey!"
The two gave bro fist to each other.
The greeting soon awoke Mobius 2 from her slumber.
"It's good to see you guys. All of you still alive?"
"Still in one piece."
"And who are these two?" Guts noticed the new faces.
"Guts. Meet Edge and Yukari. Our newest Mobius members."
"Hi."
"Hello!"
"I see you're getting famous by the day, you wild dog!"
The pilot only laughed dryly.
"I've heard about Seattle. Thank you for helping us." Guts continued.
"Just another day in the office."
Guts's appearance soon gathered the attention of other 108th members.
"I see that everyone is gathered here."
"Yeah, the higher up has big plan for all of us." Archer said.
"Where is Warwolf 1?" Mobius 2 asked.
It was then, they noticed his face turned grim.
"Follow me."
…
…
"Colonel, it's me. I'm coming in." Guts said after knocking on the door.
The sight of Bishop lying on the medical bed was…surprising and…confused.
"Oh hey guys." The veteran greeted. "It's good to see you."
The news of Warwolf 1 got shot down had shocked quite a few.
"We were dispatched to Miami city to fend off the Orussian air attack. But then…" Guts shared the story to Mobius squadron as they're standing outside Bishop's room. Everyone else made their small chatter and well wishing to him.
"Colonel's plane was hit. He had to bail out right in the heat of battle."
"Before he hit the ground, a piece of metal hit right at his spine."
"The Doc said...he will never be able to fly again." Guts sighed heavily, holding back his tears and anger.
"That bastard…he clipped Colonel's wings off."
"Who did?" Mobius 1 asked.
"There's some…Erusean ace. His plane is Su-30. Orange-tipped wings."
"…" The silver-haired Witch glanced at him silently.
"He's almost got me too…but then…for some reason…he pulled out. Like he's mocking us."
"Don't worry. If I meet him, I won't let him get away." Mobius 1 assured him.
"You better be." He smiled.
"What about the rest of your squadron?" This time, Mobius 3 asked.
"Well, with me being the new flight lead, and just three of us. We are hardly functioning as a squadron now. Only act as rear guard, much to my disproval."
"Mobius 2, are you alright?" Yukari asked.
"…I'm fine."
…
…
The night came.
Even though there was a war going on. Some distant faint gun firefight like firecracker was heard in the air.
A certain Fuso Witch found herself looking at the stars. A strip of glistering stars like sparkle dust she had played when she's still in school.
It was a tranquil moment.
Unlike everything she has gone through.
The moment when her base was under attacked by a number of mysterious drones.
The moment when she put her legs inside the Striker Unit.
The moment when she fought alongside with that person.
"Yukari..." A faint voice called out, which didn't gain her attention yet, until it came closer and louder.
"Yukari-san?"
"Ah-hai?!"
The Witch turned around in flustered, only to see a familiar face in her squadron.
"Are you alright?" The young Fuso pilot asked.
"Y-yes, Nagase-san. I'm sorry. I'm just thinking..."
"About Mobius 2?"
"Yeah..."
"She is indeed...a mystery."
Nagase soon sat close to Yukari, looking at the same scenery.
"It's beautiful."
"It is..."
"You know? I wish I was also a Witch just like you, to be able to feel the winds, and the clouds. It must have been quite an experience, right?"
"Yes."
"When Reiko, my little sister has it..."
"You can't believe how worry I was when I heard the news. But...it's good thing that she likes to do the Sky Race, rather joining the defense force."
Nagase noticed Yukari's looking at her in silent.
"Oh, please don't take it the wrong way. I don't mean to..."
"I understand." She nodded.
Joining the military, well, going to war, was never an easy news. Especially for Yukari's parents. The sole fact that she joined was to become like the Witches in Second Neuroi War.
"Speaking about her, then there's her brother...he is big." Nagase said.
"Big...?"
"Oh-Oh! I didn't mean it that way!" Her face instantly turned red upon the realization.
"...What I mean is...e-hem! When you fly under his wings, you can almost feel secure. Like a mother to her child."
"Me too."
"Fighting along side Mobius 2. She did her very best to protect me."
"But I feel...she is pushing herself, a lot…"
"…We sure do have our own problem, don't we?"
"Those two are sure some enigma. Never reveal their true names to us."
"But…as a wingman, let's watch out for our flight lead's back, okay?"
"Yes, Nagase-san!"
"You can call me Kei."
"Oh ok…Kei-san."
"Let's get some shut eye, shall we?"
The pilot walked away first before the witch followed.
One thing that Yukari didn't share was when she remembered Mobius 2 was looking at Guts with an intense face she has never seen before. Especially when he mentioned about that Su-30...
\/ /\ \/
0500hrs, September 6th, 2019
"I'm Brigadier General Howard Clemens." Standing on the platform before the sitting members of 108 Task Force, the man in uniform introduced himself.
"Let's get this show on the road."
Behind him, the screen showed the map of Liberion.
"It has been 7 days since the boots of Orussian touched the US soil. Now we finally have the chance to make the counterattack."
"Operation Exodus."
"We will launch the attack simultaneously on all fronts. Land, air and sea. We will retake the capital, New York and other major cities on the East Coast."
"I am aware that you are belonged to the NUN. However, fighting for the sake of peace and stability of Liberion is very well under your commitment."
"As such, I will be in charge and assign you to be where you're needed."
"Wild Badgers. Green Tails will assist the 75th Ranger Regiment along with 11st Witches 'Marmot' in retaking the DC."
"Swordfish team. You will be directed to Stonehenge Site 1. Your task is to guard it with your life."
"With all due respect, sir." Ren stood up. "I believe that my blade should be on the frontline."
"I appreciate your enthusiasm, Miss…Raiden."
"It's Raijin. Not Raiden."
"…Noted." He then continued on.
"Stonehenge Site 1 is a high value target to our enemies. And of course, it required a good number of protectors."
"However, for the operation Exodus, the manpower is needed. I believe that power of your…katana will be sufficed."
"...you're assigning the Swordfish team as the only guards for the railgun?" Fencer asked.
"Erusean bombers are tenacious. But I'm sure it'd be an easy task for you."
"But that doesn't explain..."
He put up his hand, stopping Ren.
"Back to the task at hand. Our intelligent vessels had detected a large combined force of Erusean and Orussian vessels, amphibious ships and aircraft making a beeline toward Boston city from Europe."
"It is highly believed that they're the reinforcement for the occupying force in Washington DC. If they succeeded, then we'll have the same political geography like back in the Liberion Civil War, between the North and the South."
"We will not let that happen."
"Task Force 108 will strike down those incoming reinforcements."
"If these boats are coming from the Europe. Won't the Invincible Fleet be there as well?"
Ever since the start of Continental War, the said fleet has always been a thorn to the US's side. They're the dominant player on the North Atlantic Ocean.
With the blockage, Europe was on its own to fence off the invaders.
"That they are."
"Mobius Squadron. Omega Squadron. You and other allied squadrons will sink them all to the bottom of the ocean."
A lot of muttering occurred in the room. "Isn't it too ambitious?" "Easier said than done."
"The 2nd Fleet will be there to provide support."
"Didn't they suffer the heavy losses from the previous engagement?"
"They did. But they aren't out of the fight yet."
"That being said. That fleet will be the least of your problem."
His word brought puzzlement to everyone.
"Our intelligence has also confirmed that the Orussian aerial fortress will intervene."
A few images taken from a spy drone appeared on screen.
Everyone went rowdy once seeing the monstrous black thing.
"Wow! Look at the size of that thing!"
"Code name: Huginn."
"We suspected that it was also the transportation that has deployed MiGs over Seattle on the forth of September."
"And you want us to take that thing down? That's a lot of wishes in the bucket list."
A lot of groaning and muttering were made.
"I understand your anxiety. But do not worry. You'll have one hell of support coming to your way."
"Then…what is it?" Omega 11 asked.
"All in good time. We cannot let the Orussian nor Erusean know about our trump card yet."
"That's…reassuring…"
"From the information we have managed to gather, the aerial fortress is running silent with highly advanced cloaking technology. The spy satellites cannot detect it."
"But it will reveal itself once it launches its attack or fighters."
"So basically, we are…the baits?" Archer said.
"You're putting the lives of men and women in danger for this bold plan."
"They should've taught you how to address superiors in boot camp."
"You know your objective. Close with the enemy. Disrupt landing operation and suppress their naval gunfire directed at our assault forces."
"I expect that much of a result from the...esteemed Task Force 108. Dismissed!"
...
...
"I can't believe there's still a guy like that in the army." Omega 11 sighed.
"Air Force." Omega 5 corrected.
"Whatever!"
"I want to test my blade against that aerial fortress." The Fuso Witch expressed her annoyance.
"It's so strange that they didn't want to use your power." Omega 1 said.
"But then again. Stonehenge is their failsafe. If this operation turned sour, at least…"
Everyone was looking at his with an odd expression.
"At least…we can run first before everyone else?"
…
…
"That's some nice toy you've got there, Mobius 2." Omega 11 asked.
"It is."
Laying on the table was Fliegerhammer Mark V, a heavy ordnance weapon that can fire multiple rockets. The first generation of this weapon was seen in the hand of Sanya V. Litvyak, a member of 501st Joint Fighter Wing 'Strike Witches'.
Unlike the previous models, the Mk. V was a triple-barreled rotating design, the body was as big as FGM 148 Javelin. The extended handheld by the barrel allowed the Witch to wield it more easily.
"Since we're taking down the boats. This is the right choice." She checked the thick tube-liked magazine containing three mini-sized rockets.
"Are you also going to on rampage like her?" He asked Yukari.
"Rampage, haha…"
"Yukari will be my ammo carrier. Flying back to the supply line would take too long." Mobius 2 answered.
"…True. But boy! We are stretched thin. So thin…"
"Green Tails, Wild Badgers to Washington DC."
"Swordfish team acting as a rearguard."
"The rest of us will jump right into the thick of Boston."
"On the sea, not in the city." Omega 5 remarked.
"And we will face the Almighty Fleet."
"They are called the Invincible, not Almighty."
"Whatever. It won't make a difference when they are at the bottom of the sea, am I right, Mobius 1?"
"I wish I have the same confident like you." The silver-haired pilot said, acting nervous.
"Oi! Oi! Don't go on me like that! I'm counting on you here!"
"I heard that the sea is warm. I think you will be fine." Mobius 2 said, which roused up everyone.
"Ooooohhh!"
...
MISSION 7
WHITE BIRD VS BLACK BIRD
1013hrs, September 6th, 2019
East Coast / / 42° 33′ 61" N -70° 95′ 94" W
Cloud cover: Heavy
Operation: Exodus
\/ /\ \/
« They sure have brought a lot of their friends. » Omega 11 commented to the sight.
The sea below them was filled with masses of steel. If it wasn't for the HUD and equipment, the vessels could have cloaked themselves thanks to the darken color of the water and the cloudy sky.
« The enemy has an incredible amount of military force… » Mobius 3 said.
« This is Sky Eye. The Allied ground force has begun the assault. »
« Operation Exodus is now underway! »
« If this op is successful, they better turn it into a national holiday. » Omega 11 said.
« Another page adds to the history book. » Omega 5 agreed.
« Hell, I sure would sleep on that. »
« Cut the chatter, Omega 11. » His squadron leader called out.
« All planes. Commencing the attack! »
« All ships! Prepare for anti-air combat! » The Aegir Fleet blared its alarm for combat station.
« Scramble the remaining fighters! »
« We've got tons of company above and below! »
« Edge, with me. » The F/A-18E lead on as the ASF-X Shinden II took the rear.
« Mobius 2. Keep your wingman safe, would ya? »
"Just worry on your own end, brother."
"Mobius 4. Engaging!"
« Swat any dumb ass that flies near our fleet! »
In a link of eye, the sky were filled with lines of tracers.
« Woah! We're not in range and they're already open fired on us. » Omega 11 exclaimed.
« Don't forget those plane escorts. »
An Erusean squadron tackled on Mobius 1 and 3.
« Huh, he dodged that? Flies like a true ace. »
« That plane is strange. Is it some kind of prototype? »
« These guys are different! They even have the Witches with them! » An Erusean pilot exclaimed.
« I think they are ARRF. »
« Hah! So much for the peacekeeper. They are warmonger just like us! »
As the voices were filling up over the channels, many more came from the mainland. Informing the Liberion has started the frontal assault.
« We are taking heavy fire! Requesting air support and airstrike on our position. Send whatever you got! »
After locking on a moving amphibious craft, Mobius 2 pulled the trigger, two times.
Two rockets didn't hit the hull directly but they managed to capsize it due their powerful explosions.
« Damn it! We should have brought our Witches here. We're fishes in a barrel! »
« Just hold on, comrade. Those witches will run out of magic soon. »
The dogfighting was leaning over the two aircraft bearing a certain blue symbol.
« What is that symbol? A ribbon? »
« That pilot has something special. Approaching him in haste will get us killed. »
Despite a number of allied vessels was dispatched by the effort of Mobius and Omega squadron, the enemy didn't show sign of faltering.
« Don't slow down! »
« Land is just up ahead! »
As the tracers from anti-aircraft guns were tearing through the sky vertically, there're also projectiles that traveled horizontally, landing on where the mass of metal and men were concentrated.
« This is Able Company. I've just lost 3 Abram tanks by enemy barrage! Where did that come from?! » A Liberion Sergeant cried out.
« They came from the sea! »
"Those battleships are firing to the mainland!" Mobius 4 made a confirm with visual.
« Those ships are not just the escorts. They're supporting artilleries for the defense lines! » Brigadier General Clemens stated. « Destroy their weapon system! »
Just before Omega 11 would start his bombing run, a few lines of tracers and a missile almost land on him.
« Don't get too close to that battleship in the center of the formation. It has the firepower to obliterate a whole small island. »
« Tanager, right? It's the flagship of the Invincible Fleet! »
« All remaining craft, get in formation. Hold on until the Aegir Fleet open up a path for us! »
Mobius 1 and 3 descended the altitude as low as they could and fired weapons at a Orussian destroyer.
« The Gardeniya has been immobilized! All hands abandon ship! She's going under! »
« Focus on the amphibious vessels. We cannot let them land anymore troop. »
« AAVs and landing crafts…so many of them. I don't bring enough bombs for this. » Omega 11 sighed.
« None of us do. We have to fight an air-to-air battle and an anti-ship battle at the same time. »
« No rest for wicked. »
It was indeed. The Task Force 108 and allied squadron targeted the outer ships of the formation. Any far advancing crafts were picked off by Mobius squadron.
« Incoming! Brace yourself! »
A destroyer was sunk by the bombing.
« This is Sky Eye. Confirmed substantial strikes on enemy forces. »
« Good! Continue on with the attack. » Brigadier General Clemens was pleased.
« Send them back to where they're belonged! »
« Hey. Those Orussian fighters have disengaged and scattered. What's happening? » An allied fighter reported.
« Warning! Incoming a fast bogey. Too small to be a plane. » Sky Eye advised. « This signal is... »
« Warning! It's a cruise missile! We have a cruise missile coming in to your location! »
« Where did it come from?! » Omega 1 exclaimed.
« Cannot pinpoint the origin. It just came out of nowhere. »
« Possibly from that aerial fortress... » Omega 5 sighed.
« It's confirmed to be a burst missile with multiple warheads that will explode in mid-air! »
« We still have those ships to worry about! Can anyone intercept it? » An allied fighter said.
« Two more cruise missiles are coming to your way! » Sky Eye gave more bad news.
« I'm plotting the course to intercept! » Mobius 3 said.
« We won't make it in time. » Mobius 1 said.
Just every mind was about to race for a solution.
A certain thing happened.
« Whoa! What was that? »
« The cruise missiles...they're gone? »
« Hey! What was that? Did you see it? » Many voices exclaimed out of astonished.
« See what? »
« The light! The light just came down from the sky! »
« The cruise missiles have been vaporized in midair? »
"It's a laser beam fired from orbit altitude." Mobius 2 said, looking up at the dark sky, although the heavy clouds has covered most of it..
« Confirm. The cruise missiles have been destroyed. » Sky Eye said this before he delivered another breaking news.
« ...It's the Arkbird! »
« We've got the Arkbird online! »
« So that's the trump card? » Omega 1 sighed.
« Took you long enough, damn stupid bird. » Brigadier General Clemens said.
« Somebody is moody. » Omega 11 said.
« This is Zero-Sierra-Alpha-Niner designator. I'm taking over the control of Arkbird. » The uniformed man spoke.
« Data link confirmed. The Arkbird is yours. » An automated female voice returned.
« He's now controlling that thing? »
« All units, continue engaging the enemy! » Sky Eye encouraged.
At this moment, everyone felt the tide of battle has changed.
« What was that light?! »
« Was it a laser? It came down from the sky? »
« They shot that from outer space? » The Orussian and Eruseans' voices bearing the confusion were all over the coms.
Before they could get any answer, the same white beam started hitting the hull of a ship.
« We're hit! »
« A beam of white coming down from the sky? You must be hallucinating. » An Orussian voice from the mainland dismissed the new information.
« It's not a hallucination! It's a nightmare! » A hysterical voice returned.
« That's it! Keep pounding those bastards! »
The white beam struck once more, ripping through the exterior armor of the ship and melted everything in its path.
« It's the destroyer Fenris! She's taking water! » An Erusean sailor cried out in horror.
« Hard to starboard! We can't block the fleet's path. All personnel, abandon ship! » The Captain gave the order.
« It's not gonna shoot at us next, is it? »
« More cruise missiles…shot down. » The imminent threats were cut down by the white beams.
The Arkbird's laser attack continued on with high accuracy.
« Enemy frigate sunk! » Sky Eye reported the kill.
« Blyat! When are we gonna hit land?! »
« Get away from us, you Witch! » A crewman manned the high caliber machinegun fired toward an ARRF Witch flying in low altitude.
The bullets were all stopped easily by the blue magic shield, however, multiple and violent impacts had weakening its energy over time. To the point that a bullet has managed getting through and scratched a paint of the blue-colored Striker.
"Uwah!" The Witch yelped out before the moving craft was struck by a rocket.
"Mobius 4. You alright?" Mobius 2 asked, loading a fresh tube for her weapon.
"I'm ok..."
"Don't get lazy with your flying. This is a war zone."
The sleepy face Yukari had seen was no longer here. Now it's a face bearing a full seriousness and committed.
The scale of morale was tipping clearly on the battle. Most of the escort planes were either shot down or turned their tails.
The ARRF and Liberion air squadrons have gained the air superiority. However, the main contributor to the ground attack was the Ark Bird, who continuously sending down the lasers, one after another. All shots landed on the enemy vessels accurately.
« What power… »
« That single bird has tipped the scale of this entire battle! »
« I can't believe it's destroying the Aegir fleet just like that so easily. » Many pilots still could not believe to the sight they're seeing.
« Keep attacking! Kick them while they're down! » The Brigadier General was in high spirit.
« I guess the Invincible Fleet is not so 'invincible' now… » Despite Omega 11 was being a jester, there was no amusement in his voice.
…
…
This was beyond anything.
Never before he had faced such situation.
Unprecedented.
And humiliated.
If some pilot out there had bested their air defense system, then so be it.
But this.
This was something he could not tolerate it!
The mighty fleet, the pride of his nation, was being picked off one by one, like toys.
"How many ships are left?" The Admiral asked.
"We've lost a lot of men, Admiral…"
"You coward! This is not a fair fight! This is slaughter!" Another crewman cried out in anger before he was stumbled by a violent shaking.
"We have taken another laser hit!"
"There's extensive flooding in critical locations! At this rate…!"
"We can't keep up, sir. We have to abandon ship!"
"Geofon." The Admiral made contract to the aircraft carrier.
"As long as one of us is alive. The Aegir fleet lives on."
« I cannot leave you like this, Admiral. »
"That's an order."
"For Erusea."
« …for Erusea. »
…
…
« I see the Erusean carrier and some destroyers are breaking off from the formation. » Edge informed to the allies.
« The Erusean fleet is retreating?! » Omega 5 was astonished.
« No, their flagship, Tanager is still holding position. » Mobius 1 said.
« Its guns are moving. » Mobius 3 said.
« Let's go in! » A Liberion captain called out.
« It's payback time! »
The remains of 2nd Fleet rushed in.
« Show them what we Erusean are made of! » Following the Admiral's voice, the six long 16-inch naval guns spewed their fire.
The shells travelled in high velocity until it hit its mark.
« This is Bouvines Line. That was a direct hit on the enemy armor! Keep that barrage coming! »
« Tanager's main batteries are still firing artillery shells toward the inland! »
« Fire at will! Bring that ship down! »
The Liberion destroyers made the charge as they're firing their weapons.
The heavy rain has lowered the accuracy heavily.
Tanager's rear turret turned toward the coming ships and fired its shells.
« Destroyer Iolite sunk! She's just took a direct hit! »
« No way. In the middle of the storm like that? »
« That's must be one hell of a gunnery officer. »
« All planes. The ground force is under heavy fire by the Aegir fleet's barrage. Knock out their primary weapons! »
« Damn this storm! Too much interferences! My missile cannot lock on! »
However, there was a Witch who was unaffected by the weather.
Locking toward one of warship's main batteries, Mobius 2 fired.
The three projectiles flew rapidly and hit home.
« Battery No. 3 is hit! » Tanager's crew reported.
« Damn. Did anyone survive? »
« I think it's Captain is still in there! »
« Get him out! Do not let our hero die! »
"Mobius 4. You still have the rocket?" Mobius 2 asked after replacing a fresh tube of rockets.
"Negative. We're out, Mobius 2."
It was then, the dark sky was brightening up above them.
« Mobius 2, 4. Get out of there! »
The two Witches promptly moved away as the laser tore through the clouds. Its target was the battered warship.
Tanager was soon stopped moving as it's taking water from the damage.
« Battleship Tanager sunk! » Sky Eye confirmed the ship's status.
« How can this be? The Liberions have humiliated us! »
« Forget about it. Our boys need help! Get them out of the water! »
« The enemy reinforcement is effectively no longer function. I can see they are rescuing whoever they can from the water. »
« Arkbird. The northwest line needs your support. » A voice from the mainland contracted.
« Negative. » Brigadier General Clemens said.
« Arkbird's priority now is targeting the remaining ships of Aegir Fleet. Sink them all here will deal a huge morale on the enemy. »
« What is this guy saying?! »
The white beams continued descend down to the sea, destroying multiple vessels.
The cries of distress and SOS signal were all over air wave.
« Those…those are people floating the waves… » Mobius 3 said.
"My god…this is…too much." Mobius 4 expressed her horror.
"…"
« … »
The siblings remained their silence.
« Is it just me, or are we seeing what our great grandparents have seen, have experienced? » Omega 5 said.
It was almost like an enact scene straight out from war documentary film.
A large fleet like this. Against a giant bird flying above that rained down with its laser attack.
A battle between Human vs Neuroi.
The fight was pretty much one-sided.
The human suffered heavy casualties and completely helpless.
Before the final strike was made.
A new arrival had entered the raging battle.
« Large presence detected in high altitude. This thing is…big. »
« How's big? »
« Bigger than anything! And it's not the Arkbird. »
« What is it now? »
« Is that…Huginn? »
« So you've finally show up. Changing target. Shoot that thing down! »
\/ /\ \/
Washington DC
« That aerial fortress has appeared? » Archer inquired.
« I've received the confirmation. It's getting chaotic over there. » Fencer confirmed.
« We should go help Mobius and Omega. »
Flying above the Liberion Capital that bathed in black smoke and orange blaze, the green-tailed Dassault Rafale Ms decided to change their course.
« This is Thunderhead to Green Tails. Hammer Down is still in effect. There're many high-valued structures are not secured yet. » The AWASC in charge of AO contacted.
« That won't be necessary. I've got visual of the green flare on top of the White House. »
« We have the keeper-sign! Abort the run. Abort the run. »
« Your rangers have done one hell of a job. »
« Woo! Good job, guys! »
« Green Tails squadron. You are not authorized to leave your AO. »
« Nobody asks for your permission, Thunder-Blockhead! We ain't part of your outfit! » Badger 1 called out brazenly.
« Go! Green Tails! We will take care the rest of it from here! »
« Much appreciated, Rico. Be careful down there. Green Tails 1 out. »
...
...
After the dropping the burning green flare smoke on the ground, the Tank Witch named Amber looked around the place in disbelief.
"I still can't believe I'm actually standing on the ground of Second Neuroi War memorial. This place is nothing but rubbles! I've just visited this place five months ago!"
To her memory, there was supposed to be a large fountain in the center. Now, it's all dried up, and turned into some foundation for the military camp.
"That's war, I supposed. Be it the Neuroi or human. The destruction always goes with it." Blake said.
"Hey! You can write a book after we're done with this." Rico called out.
"Secure the area. But don't take any unnecessary risk. We can't afford to die here!"
\/ /\ \/
When everyone was about to brace for some sort of shockwave by the impact, they were wide eyed when seeing the unimaginable.
« Holy…that thing just took that laser beam head on! » The allied fighter exclaimed.
"Was that…a magic shield?" Yukari was dumbfounded, seeing the sphere-shaped of blue energy layer has just deflected the laser shot.
"…I think it's a man-made." Mobius 2 stated. "I'm surprised Orussia has developed such technology."
The massive flying machine slowed down its maneuver. All eyes saw how it was circling around the battered fleet below.
« That ship is…protecting the fleet below! » Edge said.
« How brave. And stupid! » The man controlling the Arkbird called out.
« Task force 108. Focus on taking down the remaining amphibious force. » Sky Eye reminded the mission at hand.
« But what about that...black bird? » Omega 11 asked.
« It's out of your reach. The Arkbird will take care of it. We can only do what we can below us. »
« White bird versus black bird. » Mobius 1 said, looking upward to the sky that turned into some sort of distorted space.
...
...
Wave of wave, the laser hit the shield layer, chipping away its energy.
« Concentrate all remaining power to the top shield generator! » The Captain of Huginn held the rail tightly to avoid being fall.
« Captain. If we do that, Huginn will be defenseless to the incoming fire directly below us. » The crew relayed.
« Our priority is saving our men from this massacre. Be that damn hammer strike from the heaven, we will hold on. We. Will. Hold. On! »
The entire ship shook violently after another strike.
« We are being hit again! »
« When this is going to stop?! » A crew cried out hysterically.
Below, the naval battle continued on, although it didn't show as much as intense it was before.
At some point, the fighters didn't target the retreating vessels or the ones trying to save the people from the water.
"Mobius 4. Don't lose your focus."
"Y-yes. But…I couldn't help but feel…pity for it…" The Witch eyed toward the happening. The black bird suffered the attacks repeatedly with no means to retaliate.
« Fire from section four and seven. Damage is serious! »
« Put them out asap. It will take more than this to bring us down. »
« Dammit! Smoke's pouring into the bridge! Somebody put that fire out! »
« Engine 2 has been hit. Engine thrust down. Pull back on the stick! »
« Not a problem. She can still fly. » The ensign reported the number.
« 30% »
« 20% »
« Gentlemen. It's been an honor serving with you. »
« The honor is mine, Captain. »
« The shield is down! This is it. May god help us… » The voice resigned to his fate.
The beam from beyond the sky struck the bird. It was the final nail landing on the flying coffin.
« That black bird is done for… » Omega 11 said, seeing the aerial fortress started to dive its nose down.
« We are losing altitude! »
« It can't be…the airborne fortress is… » All eyes looked at their massive black bird that was engulfed in blazing flames in disbelieved.
« The aerial fortress is going down! »
« It's going to crash into the coastline! That's where our allies are! » An Erusean Captain said.
« Everyone! GET OUT OF THERE! »
« This is Sky Eye affiliated to NUN to Huginn. Please direct your path away from the coast! »
« Agrhh…the control won't respond. »
« Engine 1. Engine 3 and 4. All engines are down! »
« Come on. Just a little more. If we can hold together long enough… »
The situation was dire before everyone's eyes.
"Oh no! What can we do?"
"Here. Hold my bazooka."
A voice called to Yukari as she was made to take the heavy weapon in her hands.
"Eh? Eehhhh?! Mobius 2!?"
Leaving the dumbfounded wingman behind, the silver-haired witch increased her thrust to charge toward the falling black bird.
A reckless move in mind that Mobius 2 would deploy her magical shield as big as she could to cover portion of the ship and then…push it away from the coast line.
« Mobius 2. What are you doing? » Sky Eye asked the question like everyone else.
She poured everything she had into her Striker. It didn't make much a push.
"Need a hand?" A female voice suddenly spoke next to Mobius 2.
"Swordfish 2?" She asked, looking at the Fuso Witch in surprised.
"You can call me Robin. We can't let you steal the spotlight now, can we?"
Following her eye direction, Mobius 2 saw a certain pony-tailed witch, who was covered in some sort of…aura. The famous sword Reppumaru was in her hands.
She was aligned herself in front of the Huginn.
And here, at this moment, Ren Hijikata made the signature move like her great grandmother did before her.
"REPPUZAN! (GALE SLASH!)"
The blade cut away a piece of Huginn's right wing, allowing Mobius 2 and Robin able to push the massive ship away from the coast.
« All hands, abandon ship! »
Many escape pods launched away as the ship continued descending down to the beach.
« This is Captain of Huginn. Our death is not the end of everything. The rest…is up to you. »
That was his final message before the black bird hit the water.
« Enemy airborne fortress is downed! I repeat. The airborne fortress is downed. She's hit the water. »
The reaction among the Liberion was...mixed. Due to most people couldn't believe or register the happening in time due to the on-going chaotic situation on different fronts.
Although such thing had happened, the fighting across the West Coast continued raging on.
Radioed voices from both side asking for help and support filling up the air wave.
Many requested for help from Arkbird.
However, the man in charge of it decided on his own term.
The laser attack continued firing down on the battered fleet.
« Arkbird! Cease firing! The enemy is no longer in capable of fighting back. Cease fire! »
His action soon met with resistance.
« As much as I hate the enemy, but there's no reason for needless killing like that. » Omega 1 said.
« Anymore than this is nothing but murder! » Mobius 3 shared the same emotion.
« Murder? No this is vengeance! They will pay for what they did! »
« No! Stop! »
Just when the weapon was charging up for another shot. It…shut down.
« The Arkbird…it's stopped firing? »
« The command…has been overridden? By whom? »
« All units in the AO are to disengage. I repeat, all units. Cease engagement immediately! » A female voice spoke over the open channel.
« What? What's going on? » The allied forces received the same directive.
« This order is coming directly from the top! »
« A ceasefire has been declared. All units. Stand down! »
« All units stand down! I repeat! Stand down! »
The rapid fire from many weapons soon came to a stop.
« What?! H-Hold on a second— »
« I'm less than twenty yards away from the hostile BTR. What am I supposed to do?! »
The fighting soldiers on the ground looked at each other, confused.
« Stand down! Everyone stands down! »
The confusion was arousing on both sides.
« I have conflicting orders from above. What is going on? » An Orussian officer asked.
« All Orussian military forces operating within the territory of Liberion are to stand down immediately. This is the direct order from the Prime Minister Nikanor! »
« We're fighting less than ten bloody seconds ago! What the hell!? »
Despite the disbelief, a few operators followed the procedure.
« This is Sky Eye. I'm changing the IFF parameters now. »
« Is that it? Just like that? The war's over? » Omega 11 asked out loud.
The fighter planes slowed down their speed and deactivated their armed weapons.
« Lieutenant. I want the battle assessment ASAP! »
The Liberion started to regroup, and shifted to search and rescue operation.
« Secure all checkpoints! Waive everyone out. I'll be damned if I let any spies through. »
« Tell the men to stand down, but hold your position. »
« I can't believe we are flying side by side like this... » Omega 5 eyed over a Su-27 on his right wing.
« Damn! This is supposed to be their grave. Not like this. »
« Edge. Are you alright? » Mobius 1 asked his wingman.
« Yeah, I'm fine… » She replied. She then continued.
« I don't feel we are victorious at all. »
« …Neither do they. »
On the far distance, Mobius 2 saw little fast-moving dots, but they soon vanished back into the clouds.
And then…TACTICAL NUKE! INCOMING! ! !
I have to say, Project Wingman was a strange ride. It could have done a bit more about the characters' background and the plot though. That ending was too…abrupt (I really can't say it's dark. If it let us do war crimes, only then I'd say yes). And that's just my opinion.