This chapter is now going to be split up, because I have to split between the briefing, the raid and the battle against the Mimic Squadron in 3 parts.

This is the part that the raid begins!

School Idols of the Lighthouse War

Chapter 17.1

The Anchorhead Raid, Part 1: The briefing for the mission.

On the home office of David North, David still works in his computer and tries to find out about what the true plan of Captain Matias Torres.

He checks a list of persons who are either retired or work in the naval departments.

Until Alex reported to David.

Alex: David.

I've built a model of Captain Torres and Three Strikes, based on your hypothesis and the mission parameters from the past.

I ran a precision combat simulation...

...but it failed.

As revealed on a automatic chess game.

David: Bummer. Why didn't it work?

As they switch to sensual answers.

Alex: Reason in sensuous oreder are:

1. Your hypothesis is trash.

2. The parameters you gave me are trash.

David: Did I do something to tick you off?

Alex: 3. Captain Torres is a singularity.

David: So the values diverge... But what about these?

4. Three Strikes is a singularity.

And: 5. The School Idols are the singularity.

Alex: 5. is only the correct stat, but 4, that's outside the confidence interval.

The possibility that is 1, 2, or 3 is 99%.

4 is 0%, and 5, just 60%

David: What?

Alex: Significance is high.

David thinks about what Alex said, she believes that Torres will win. But then David have an idea.

David: Try this.

David puts the personal file of Trigger into the other place, and then it copies.

David: This is Three Strikes's data before she was assigned to the LRSSG.

SN Sakamoto, Spring Sea

11:00 AM

10 September, 2019.

Alexa's(Trigger)P.O.V.

I was walking around the hangars while the flight engineers are prepping some new weapons.

Alexa: Eh, what is that thing mounting on my plane?

SFE 1: Oh this? That is a Self-Forging Fragments Submunitions (SFFS). A air-to-ground special weapon. So you could say a free-fall bombs. Good against ground units and ships.

Alexa: Wicked! This might be of nice use!

SFE 1: Wtih the few modifications and some explosive punches thanks to the School Idol Scientist Shiki, you can blow the harbor skyhigh!

Alexa: Awesome!

Loudspeaker: Attention, Will the School Idols and Alexa come to the briefing room?

Alexa: Well, gotta go. Duty calls!

Alexa ran quickly to the briefing room.

As they had gathered together in the briefing room, the satellite link and David's comms are activated.

Clemens: The Erusean military is gathering its remaining naval forces at Anchorhead Bay. Apparently, they're even bringing in the ships of the mothball fleet.

This is probably to reinforce their naval power in preparation for the showdown in Farbanti.

We've received intel that the Alicorn will also be joining them.

David: From which source, Brigadier General? There is a possibility that the Alicorn's former crew are being tasked with sabotage.

Clemens: Your job, David, is to analyze the enemy's weaponry. From now on, speak only when authorized.

...I don't hear a response.

Karibuchi: Permission to speak in authorization, sir?

Clemens: Oh, not about that, Karibuchi. It's North only. You are at least allowed to speak.

David: May I be authorized to speak first, sir?

Clemens: ...When we're done, I'll be talking to your superiors.

Combat map opens.

Here's your mission: LRSSG is to raid Anchorhead. Carry out many air strikes on Anchor Bay to the north and Dakiouk Bay to the south, inflicting all possible damage.

If we can strip the port of it's naval functions, we can also prevent the submarine from joining forces.

Wiseman: The area around Anchorhead is Erusean territory. To delay hostile detection, you will sortie in small numbers and make your way in at super-low altitudes.

Jaeger: Small sortie, huh? Who's going this time?

Wiseman: Count, Lanza, Húxiān and Trigger. Four aircraft from Strider Squadron will be deployed. The School Idols will be later revealed.

Lanza: Whoa! Alright, I got this!

Wiseman: To our lack of numbers, we're giving you plenty of opportunities to resupply. Look here.

Three lines of resupply are revealed in the combat map.

Wiseman: We've set up multiple return lines. Make full use of them to resupply and change armaments.

Also note that the enemy will not be able to mount a defense immediately after detecting you. Use this window to destroy high-threat targets. That should make things easier for you.

Clemens: It should also raise the survival rate.

Count: Survival rate, huh?

Clemens: The element of surprise and resupplying are the key. Beyond that, I just need a couple of pilots who will stick to my orders. We don't need an ace to succeed. You got anything to say? Good.

David: Brigadier General.

Clemens: That is all.

Clemens left.

Wiseman: David, go on.

David: Let me share the career of Matias Torres, captain of the Alicorn.

On the list of Matias Torres is his service record, as well as his decorations and punishments.

David: Does anyone know how his people hailed him?

Skald: A bit of unfair to provide us with next-to-no hints, don't you think?

David: *chuckle* Fair enough. "The Hero of Comberth Harbor" is the answer.

He was the captain of the battleship Tanager at the time of the Continental War.

It lead the Aegir Fleet, the invincible armada in 2004.

Karibuchi: But when the fleet was destroyed at Comberth Harbor in 2004, so was his ship.

David: Correct, Courtney.

Húxiān: Yet, he's the hero?

David: He was able to bring most of his crew home with accurate damage control and precise evacuation orders.

Then, there's the accident of the Alicorn. Many believe that if thy stay with him, they'll live.

Transfer from surface to underwater is unusual. However, considering his skill and reputation, along with the fact that the alicorn is no ordinary submarine, it all makes sense.

Wiseman: It might be a difficult mission to carry out with 4 aircraft.

Still, I'd like to add one more to the mission conditions.

Count: What, you want make it even harder?

Wiseman: I want a 100% survival rate for te sortie. Any other number and the mission will considered to be a failure!

Count: Okay, that will be noted!

Wiseman: Trigger, before the mission is a go, which School Idol pilots are going?

Alexa(Webcam): Honoka, Eli, You and the Saint Snow team are going to sortie, the latter will sortie later while we are on it.

Wiseman: Confirmed. Let them know about the conditions of this sortie.

Alexa(Webcam): 100% survival rate, noted.

Wiseman: That will be all. All pilots assigned here, get moving!

And for the School Idols, good luck and be very careful!

Briefing ended.

Leah: So, what's the mission?

Alexa: Honoka, Eli and You, You three are going to assist the raid on Anchorhead Bay.

You: Okay, back we go again, huh?

Alexa: Sarah and Leah, you two will take off later, while we are attacking halfway during the mission.

Sarah: Understood.

Leah: Good. It's gotta be time.

Alexa: Okay, then. Time to go!

Chapter 17.1 End.