School Idols of the Lighthouse War
Chapter 16
Unexpected Visitors
At the home office of OIA analyst David North, David is working on the computer with a report of the giant submarine named the Alicorn and it's history.
David's computer is ringing, but he refused to answer the call.
David: Hey Alex. I'm almost finished writing the summary for the report.
David put up a file to the other, and it will copy it to the other folder. The copying screen give the time of 11 seconds to complete it.
Alex: Perfect.
While David decides to check on the summary...
David: I'm still unconvinced. So here's a question for you, Alex. How can we do this without killing Three Strikes?
David watches a photo of Trigger's Aircraft with the three scratches.
SN Sakamoto, Spring Sea.
September 4th, 2019
10:55 AM
Alexa is watching over the outskirts of the sea on the flight deck of the Sakamoto.
Alexa: Aah! What a beautiful day! And it's good to be redeployed here, it'll get us closer to the mission area. I'll better check down to see my plane is putting up.
Alexa heads down to the hangar where all the School Idol aircrafts and her plane are stationed.
The Satsuman flight engineers are working hard to fit up the weapons of their aircraft.
Alexa: Looking good so far!
Satsuman Flight Engineer: Thanks!
As Alexa watches the aircraft continue to be fitted, Sarah Kazuno, flight leader and a member of the Saint Snow Squadron arrived.
Sarah: Ah, Alexa. There you are!
Alexa: Sarah, good to see you!
Sarah: Could you come to the briefing room? We have a new mission ready for that operation.
Alexa: Okay, coming now!
Alexa and Sarah headed for the briefing room where all the designated School idols in the Sakamoto are heading.
A few minutes later...
Karibuchi: You all here? Good. The webcam is activated!
All the School Idols in the Sakamoto, as well as Alexa are now seated in the briefing room, waiting for the assignment.
The Computer briefing opened and the webcams of Wiseman, Miyafuji, David and the Strider pilots are all online.
Briefing started.
Data Satellite link activated.
At the Osean base, the Osean pilots are talking during the briefing begins.
Count: Fencer still hasn't recovered?
Lanza: He has, but the doctor won't let him fly for now.
Count: Guessd as much.
???: How much longer are you gonna make me wait?
Húxiān: Who's the self-important stiff?
Skald: He'll hear.
David North's connection cam is online.
David: We're connected. Ready now, sir.
The superior officer sighs.
Clemens: I'm Brigadier General Howard Clemens. I'm in charge of this operation.
Our objective is to capture an advanced submarine in the harbor of Artiglio.
The port of Artiglio and the surrounding oil facilities were mostly destroyed by a another air operation.
Count remembered that operation.
Count: Oh, that port! Seems like such a long time ago.
Skald: You've been there?
Count: Yeah. During in my time in the previous squadron, me and some pilots, along with 2 School Idol Squadrons destroyed the port.
Clemens: Nice observation. However, Erusean forces repaired some of the facilities and used them to resupply and maintenance a massive submarine.
David: Here's a question. How long do you think this submarine is?
The Osean pilots say nothing, while the School Idols calculate.
David: If you guessed 495 meters, you're right. It also has a width of 116 meters and a submerged displacements of 810,000 tons.
David shows the schematics of the submarine. And the date it was launched and commissioned.
David: It's a super-sized nuclear submarine powered by two liquid metal cooled reactors.
Húxiān: I guess it really is huge. So, who's the quiz show host?
David: David North. I'm an OIA analyst from Advanced Weapon Analysis.
Húxiān: Why isn't he here?
Wiseman: Because he doesn't need to be. He can perform his analysis at his home office.
Count: We got ourselves an armchair detective.
Wiseman: Continue.
David: I have come to call this super-submarine the "Alicorn."
The Alicorn is a submarine... and yet it can stage aircraft operations like a carrier!
It also boast some serious firepower with its two main railguns. Their range is over 400 kilometers.
Maki: That's pretty powerful for a railgun. I give them that.
Leah(Webcam): A real monster, if there ever was one.
David: The sub's force projection capailities are equivalent to a carrier strike group. Furthermore, it can approach underwater or use aircraft and railguns to attack outside the enemy's range.
It has an unusual history befitting such a ship. It was launched 4 years ago.
However, it wen't MIA on a sea trial after being outfitted.
At Gaze News, it said that the submarine was sunk, but it isn't.
It was later found at the bottom of the ocean by chance, and of the 356 men, 330 were rescued.
Then here's the question. For how many days was the Alicorn underwater?
The Osean pilots say nothing, while the School Idols calculate, again.
David gave them the answer.
David: It was 698 days.
Lanza: Woah!
Skald: They were down there two years?
David: They were on the sea floor, at fifteen degrees.
Alexa(Webcam): And what happened to the 26 members of the 356 men on that sub?
David: Unknown. No data was found at them.
Count: So why are they deploying it to the front lines now?
The sub's schematics are now shut and they are going to to the combat map.
David: I suspect it has to do with the loss of an Arsenal Bird and the IRBM cluster.
Ayumu(Webcam): Huh. I see. We need to capture this sub, and pretty fast.
Clemens: Yes, we capture it, but we have to be patient and very careful.
We have reports from local sources that there are weapons of mass destruction aboard the Alicorn.
David: Source?
Clemens: If we can secure that evidence, we'll gain an advantage in the peace negotiations post-war.
As in the combat map reveals.
Wiseman: The Osean Navy has dispatched a fleet including a landing ship to capture the Alicorn. Our Satsuman allied scouting fleet will cover the flanks 30 miles away from the port.
Our mission is to secure air superiority and protect this assault-and-capture task force.
Setsuna(Webcam): This won't be a problem.
Clemens: However, If we take too long, they'll scuttle the sub. The fleet will commence its actions while we seize the skies.
Haruka: Wouldn't it be risky to bring in this fleet in before we secure air superiority, sir?
Clemens: That might not be possible, Miss Konoe.
Húxiān: So basically, you're putting our fleet in danger for political games.
Clemens: They should've taught how to address superiors in boot camp.
Wiseman: ...An EW squadron will be deployed. Their ESM will be a valuable asset. Stay within their range and you'll have a signifcant advantage over your enemies.
The ETA for the EW aircraft is the same as H-hour.
Clemens: Only Strider Squadron will sortie.
Wiseman: Trigger, Count, Skald and Húxiān will go flying today.
Jaeger: Woah, I have to sit this one out?
Lanza: Pretty much.
Húxiān: Wait! Wiseman, you're not coming?!
Wiseman: I'll be assisting the brigadier general at HQ.
Clemens: Trigger, even though you must sortie, which School Idols do you want to join for this mission? Even though I didn't want it, but Miyafuji and Karibuchi are persistent, I'll give them that.
Alexa(Webcam): Ayumu, Setsuna, Hanayo, You, Hanamaru, Kanata and Yohane are going to fly today.
Wiseman: Yohane, the fallen angel?
Alexa: That's Yoshiko's nickname. She always says that.
Karibuchi: Okay, that is the team for our deployment. I'll tell them that they have to go to their aircraft right away.
Clemens: This is by no means a difficult mission. Your squadron commander's absence shouldn't change that. That will be all.
Briefing Ended.
Alexa: Okay, time to get to my aircraft. We need to capture this submarine today. Although the Brigadier General is pretty serious today.
Sarah: Good luck on this mission, Alexa. Once you return, I'll have some good tea ready for you.
Alexa: Thanks, Sarah. See you girls on deck.
After all the preparations are completed, the aircraft carrier crew brought me and my plane to the deck elevator, pulled me up to the flight deck and after the plane is prepared, and then, I can takeoff form the carrier.
A few minutes later... Ayumu, Setsuna, Hanayo, You, Kanata, Hanamaru and Yohane took off as well.
And at the LRSSG Base, Count, Skald and Húxiān took off, and we meet at the Spring Sea, where the Osean fleet and the landing ship sail to the port.
Artiglio Port
14:55 PM
September 4th, 2019.
???: It's a requiem.
Set off as soon as we're ready!
The Alicorn is docked in the Artiglio Port and is planning to prepare, while the Osean fleet as well as the landing ship are on their way to capture the submarine.
The Strider Squadron and the School Idol fighter aircraft are flying to meet the enemy's defenses.
Alexa's P.O.V.
Alexa: There it is!
Count: Here we go!
Skald: Let's go in with a bang!
*comms online*
Wiseman: Understood. Wait!
Count: What's up?
Wiseman: Abort mission! We have a situation!
Ayumu: What kind of situation?
Long Caster: Friendly aircraft and EW aircraft will arrive 5 minutes late!
Húxiān: What?!
Wiseman: Retreat and wait for backup!
Clemens: Retreat not authorized. Gain air superiority at once!
Count: Trigger, what now?
Alexa: You heard what Skald said. Hanayo, activate the jammer immediately!
Hanayo: Yokai!
Hanayo's Gripen has activated the switch and the high long-range jammer is activated, and Alexa opened pulse-laser fire.
The laser managed to shoot down one enemy fighter aircraft immediately.
Count: *laugh* The School Idols and Trigger have already kicked off the game!
Húxiān: We're going in! After Trigger and her Satsuman allies!
And Alexa destroyed 3 enemy fighter aircraft already.
Long Caster: All aircraft, engage, weapons free!
Setsuna: You heard the AWACS! Engage the enemy! Let's dance!
Wiseman: Sir, you didn't tell us there was a change in the H-hour.
Clemens: Hmph. You mean our own hotshots won't even last 5 minutes?
Alexa shot down an enemy F-22A.
EF 2: Just four aircraft? They got some cocky nerve!
EF 3: Watch out! The School Idols are here too! They are really giving us a world of pain!
EF 4: Come on! It's time to fight a real fighter pilot!
EF 6: I'm hit! Aagh!
One pilot got shot down and got his comms breakdown.
Captain Airey: Don't slow down! Being late is not an option!
Sigurd 1: This is Sigurd 1. 3 and 4, head to 305. Pincer attack!
Sigurd 3: Sigurd 3, wilco! 4, tail me! Fly like you're one with the plane.
Alexa attacked and hit a another enemy F-22A.
Count: Trigger, I'm seeing advanced stealth fighters.
Alexa shot down the enemy F-22A.
Long Caster: Su-57s, highly capable planes. Stay on your toes if you engage them.
Setsuna: I may have the same plane as them, but I'm much more skilled than them.
Alexa: Take them out, Setsuna.
Setsuna: On to them!
EF 7: Aah! Help me!
*comms breakdown*
Ayumu: Got an enemy fighter!
EF 5: Pilot ejected! Send rescue!
Count: I don't need no Wiseman to fly!
Wiseman: Then prove it, Count!
Count: Righto!
Hanayo shot down an enemy fighter while she could jam the enemy air capabilities at the same time.
Hanayo: Got him!
EF 8: Friendly hit! Radzinsky!
Count: It's skill that counts, not the plane!
Alexa: Agreed, Count.
Skald: Air combat's a lot harder without Wiseman!
Setsuna shot down a fighter with her lasers!
Count: You sure? Our girl Trigger was an absolute monster just now!
EF 7: Can't ask for more than to die in the skie–
*comms offline*
Count: Not bad at all, Trigger!
Count: I've downed quite a few, but haven't even made a dent!
Húxiān: Shut up. You see Trigger complaining?
Ayumu took down another fighter on the right of the place where the Satsuman scouting fleet will arrive.
Count: Well, she doesn't talk very much, aside talking with the School Idols, but… fine. Here I go!
Skald: Being outnumbered is tougher than I thought, but our Satsuman friends with us, I think this might be a little easy for us.
Húxiān: Shut your trap and keep shooting!
Skald: I'll do it with a good bang!
Yohane shot down an enemy Typhoon.
Húxiān: Let's see how good you are!
Húxiān took some fire, but she's holding.
EF 9: These guys are good!
EF 10: I'll take the one on the left, you take the one on the right!
EF 11: We are the last generation of fighter pilots! Show 'em just what we can do!
Skald: It's not every day you're in a battle like this!
Alexa chases an enemy F-22A.
Húxiān: C'mon, try me! Nobody's got more combat experience than we do! Right, Ayumu?
Ayumu: Correct you are!
You, along with Hanamaru and Kanata, prepare their planes against an enemy squadron named Glamrock.
Glamrock 1: Well, look who we got here! This plane and I may be past our prime, but we are no pushovers. Yee-haw! Here we go, cowboys! Surround them!
Hanamaru: We won't let you-zura!
Hanamaru and You shot down the 2 fighters of the Glamrock Squadron.
Wiseman: Strider Squadron, School Idols Team, enemy aircraft have begun their assault on the fleet. Swiftly secure our air superiority.
You: This is Aqours 2 to Wiseman, roger! We'll hit them with what we got!
Count: I know that, but we're a bit outnumbered! They're pushing us back hard!
The School Idols are protecting the fleet as best as they have.
Alexa shot down another enemy fighter.
Glamrock 4: Was fun flying with you guys for one last ti–
*comms break down*
Glamrock 3: That was a fine last flight, brother!
Another Glamrock fighter was shot down by You's F-35C.
You: Yousoro! Another one down!
Airey: Keep course! A few sparks are to be expected!
Count: They are good, but their planes are not doing any favors!
And a few seconds later,
Enchanter 1: This is Enchanter. We've entered the AO!
Kanata and Haruka shot down Glamrock 5.
Long Caster: Yes! EW Aircraft and Drake Squadron are here!
Count: I didn't think you'd get here so quickly.
Enchanter 1: Heh. We're here, team!
Glamrock 2: …See ya later, cowboys! I'll be wai—
*comms offline*
Glamrock 1: …You won't wait for long.
You shot down the last of the Glamrocks, all cowboys are shot down.
Long Caster: The EW aircraft have strong ESM onboard! It can improve your dogfighting capabilities by enhancing missile range, homing and more! But, it's only for Osean aircraft.
Enchanter 2: It's Three Strikes's squad! And the Satsuman squads! If we work our magic, it'll be over quickly! Fly closer, ace! Let us back you up!
Wiseman: Trigger, take out all enemies away from our fleet too. Take control of the entire airspace.
Alexa: with the help of my Satsuma friends, I will!
Skald: Setsuna shot down an Su-57! She shot it down with the same aircraft she uses!
Sigurd 3: Damn that enemy Su-57! That was our youngest pilot!
Drake 1: Drake 1, engaging!
Drake 3: Drake 3, engaging!
Sigurd 3: I see Three Strikes! C'mon, girl, take me to him!
Sigurd 2: Go get her, buddy! I'll cut her off!
Setsuna: No you don't!
Sigurd 1 got hit.
Sigurd 3: Sigurd 1, eject!
Sigurd 1: Not yet! I'll keep him hanging! You take her down!
Sigurd 3: Roger!
Count: Drake Squadron, follow me! I'll show you how the pros do it!
Drake 2: Copy that. Show us what you got!
Drake 4: We can't afford to lose our EW aircraft!
Sigurd 1: I'll prove myself by taking her down!
Setsuna chases the enemy Su-57 and a few seconds later, she shoots it down.
Drake 5: Drake 5, engaging!
Drake 8: Drake 8, engaging!
Sigurd 2: Captain!
Sigurd 1: Ow! Damn! Shot down by a School Idol! Damn her!
Alexa and the School idols continue their battle against the Erusean fighter aircrafts.
Skald: I should've switched with Lanza.
Alexa's pulse lasers on her plane shot down the enemy F-15E aircrafts.
Long Caster: Entering ESM range.
Alexa: Hanayo, how are you holding?
Hanayo: All good. The jamming is still fine, though.
Alexa: Good.
Alexa shot down an enemy Typhoon.
Skald: Trigger splashed a hostile.
Long Caster: The jamming barrage of Hanayo and the ESM's improving your aircraft's dogfighting capabilities.
Count: Woo! This is magic, alright!
Ayumu shot down a fighter.
Ayumu: Target is down!
Setsuna: Continue to hunt on enemy fighters.
EF 12: You see the size of that sub? Why the hell was it not in action all this time?!
Setsuna shot down the last enemy Su-57. Sigurd Squadron is taken out.
Count: Come at me, bro! Catch me if you can!
Alexa flies to the enemy ground defenses.
Alexa: Kanata, You and Hanamaru-chan, Let's pound the enemy on the ground!
Kanata, You and Hanamaru: Yokai!/Hai!/Yokai-zura!
EF 14: So, this is the meeting place for pilots replaced by UAVs? Haha!
EF 15: This is it! This is the battlefield I've been craving!
Kanata: Many ground units destroyed.
Hanamaru's penetration bombs blew the enemy vehicles off the road.
Drake 5: Break their coordination!
More ground defenses are hit hard.
EGU 2: Leave the enemy ships to our birds! Hold until enemy aircraft are in range!
Count: We're not fighting UAVs. It's just as hard on them as it is on us!
More enemy ground defenses are pounded by the penetration bombs of Hanamaru's aircraft.
Long Caster: Multiple aircraft are approaching this airspace. They're Harriers.
Wiseman: Any attack on our fleet must be stopped!
Húxiān: Alright.
Long Caster: Satsuman scouting fleet has arrived in the AO.
SF 1: This is Takarazuka! Long Caster! We have arrived to aid you from enemy aircraft!
Alexa checks on her radar.
EGU 3: Help the friendly being tailed!
Long Caster: *puff* I don't even have time for a snack on this operation!
Count: You just wait! I'll get you a break in a second!
Long Caster: Thanks!
EF 18: Are you sure?!
EF 19: Damn sure! It's Three Strikes!
Alexa: Ayumu, I'll take them on the rear, you'll attack them from the front!
Ayumu: Okay!
Alexa shot down a Harrier.
Ayumu's TAAM shot down a Harrier on the front.
Long Caster: Harrier destroyed! Nice work! Those fighters are after the fleet! Take care of the rest!
Ayumu: Roger.
Yohane shot down an enemy fighter close to the EW aircraft that was about to shoot.
EF 21: I'll show you moves no UAV can copy!
Hrotti 5: No control! Returning to base!
Hrotti 4: Don't forget to tell the mechanics you seem to have a "problem" every time Three Strikes shows up!
OF 3: Anti-air stations! Target enemy aircraft!
EF 22: I'll get targeted by the moment I try to close in on the ships!
The enemy missile got taken out by the Osean CWIS.
EF 23: They're only human! They'll tire out soon enough!
Drake 6: Yes!
Long Caster: All Harrier IIs have all been destroyed!
Skald: Good job!
Long Caster: Great work!
Alexa shot down a Mig-31 from the Hrotti Squadron.
Húxiān: Nice kill!
And then on comms…
Karibuchi: Karibuchi to Strider 1, come in, Strider 1!
Alexa: Karibuchi-san! What is it?
Karibuchi: I've intercepted the enemy transmissions, the captain of the Alicorn named Matias Torres is up to something, you need to hear this!
Torres: Command Duty Officer. The approaching landing ship is to be considered hostile. Set it as your target.
Alicorn CDO: Roger. Set primary target to hostile landing ship Puffin.
Torres: Our target is the captain of the Puffin, Robin Airey.
Alicorn CDO: Captain?
Torres: Ah, you didn't see it. Gunnery is about killing the people onboard.
Karibuchi: That's what the transmissions said, and they are targeting the captain of the landing ship.
Alexa: Get them these transmissions!
Karibuchi: On it!
New transmissions acquired.
Long Caster: Detecting hostile barrage jamming! They brought in EW aircraft of their own! I'll display the jamming area on your radars.
Alexa: I see it, they will soon see their jamming is useless against Hanayo's long-range jammer!
Húxiān: Should we take these guys out first?
Wiseman: That's your call. Be flexible with your tactics!
Húxiān: Roger!
Alexa: Okay. Hanayo, you stop them. You, Yohane, provide cover!
Yohane: Aqours 4 acknowledges!
Hanayo's Gripen fired on the enemy EA-18G named Orthus.
One of them is hunted down by Yohane.
Hanayo shot down the enemy EA-18.
Skald: That would've been way too close if it wasn't for Printemps 3 and Trigger!
Long Caster: Hanayo took out an enemy EW aircraft! Not bad for a shy girl!
EF 24: Breaking out of enemy lock!
Drake 7: These guys aren't just a bunch of goons!
EF 25: Enemy on your ass!
EF 26: I'll try to get close, but she is already gone before I get to that!
EF 27: Those EW aircraft are tough!
EF 28: Tell me about it! That green Gripen took us seriously! She jammed us from a distance!
Alexa shot down an YF-23.
Skald: I'm in your debt, Trigger.
More and more Erusean fighters are getting shot down while being jammed by Hanayo and shot down by Strider Squadron as well as Ayumu, Hanayo, You, Yohane and Setsuna.
EF 28: Yes! This is the air combat that I've been waiting for!
EF 29: *chuckle* Y'all don't really care about the sub and just want a good fight, huh?
Drake 2: Getting a real warm welcome here!
You shot down an enemy F-35C.
Skald: I'm on his back.
Skald shot an enemy fighter off.
Alexa also shot down a F-35C.
New transmission from Long Caster.
Long Caster: All aircraft, be advised! Enemy strike fighters are on the approach! They're Fullbacks, definitely faster than the ones before!
Wiseman: They pose a serious threat. Take them down!
Alexa and Ayumu: We're on it!
SF 1: I see 'em! Get the anti-air defenses ready!
SS 2: Aye, captain!
Count: Righto! Trigger, let's get this done quick!
Karibuchi: Strider 1, more unknown transmissions are intercepted. You have to hear this!
Unknown 1: They paid us the full price in advance. Failure is not an option!
Unknown 2: The full price?! They must really want her dead, huh?
Karibuchi: That's the transmission I intercepted, Alexa!
Alexa: Wait a minute! Who are they? Are they going to kill me?
Karibuchi: I think so!
Alexa: I'll meet them when they are here.
EF 31: Two approaching from the southwest!
EF 32: They're Berkuts! Marking as Osean!
EF 33: Bandits? And only the two of them?
EF 34: Stay sharp! The first 4 and 7 unknown aircraft have downed a bunch of ours!
EF 35: Copy. Attacking the Berkuts first!
Long Caster: Warning! Enemy aircraft are nearing the landing ship!
Ayumu: We'll get them!
Setsuna quickly shot down the first enemy Su-34.
OF 4: We're passed the third checkpoint! We're halfway there!
Airey: From Puffin to all ships. Change formation!
OF 5: Full speed ahead! Move in front of the landing ship Puffin! We're going to be their shield!
Alexa, Ayumu and Setsuna destroyed the enemy Su-34s.
Long Caster: Targets eliminated! Good work!
Count: Looks like we'll have that beast captured in no time.
Skald: They'll be happy to see us. Spent two years at the bottom of the ocean. They wouldn't want to go back to that.
Alexa's pulse lasers shot the last jammer aircraft.
Unknown 1: I see Three Strikes!
Unknown 2: *evil laugh* I'll kill you!
Transmission Long Caster.
Long Caster: All aircraft, be advised. Two bogeys on the approach! Aircraft type: Su-47!
Skald: Berkuts…? Erusea doesn't have many of those. Where'd they come from?
Unknown 2: Hey Rage, can I kill her now? I've waited long enough!
Unknown 1: Lady Luck is smiling on us! Use the confusion to get on her six!
Unknown 2: Like a true villain, huh? I like the way you think!
EF 33: Osean on my tail!
EF 35: Taking fire! AAAH!
The Erusean fighters got shot down by the 2 unknowns in the Su-47s.
???: Woo!
???: You idiot! Ignore the Eruseans!
???: Don't call me an idiot! I'd kill you if you weren't my brother!
They perform a double swing move.
Long Caster: The bogey shot down a Erusean bird!
Count: What do you mean?!
Transmission of Wiseman.
Wiseman: There are no more reinforcements. They must be hostile! You are cleared to engage; don't hesitate!
???: Get her!
???: *evil laugh* I'm gonna screw you up so bad!
Transmissions fron Karibuchi.
Karibuchi: Karibuchi to Strider 1!
Alexa: Go for Strider 1!
Karibuchi: Those Su-47 aircraft are flown by the squadron named Mimic, Mimic 1 is Rage and Mimic 2 is Scream! They are flown by the Dalsen siblings! We still do not know who commands them to kill you!
Alexa: Do not worry, I'll find a plan, in the meantime, continue to intercept the transmissions!
Karibuchi: Roger that!
Count: Hostiles popped out of nowhere!
Long Caster: It's an ECM, a type of saturation decoy.
Skald: Visually scan for the source! Who are these guys?!
Húxiān: They're neither Osean or Erusean. They're just filthy bats!
The enemy squadron deploys decoys to confuse the Strider Squadron.
Alexa: Hmm… Those are good illusionists in the air, but I have a trick on my own!
Let's do this trick, Setsuna, Húxiān!
Setsuna: Heard you!
Húxiān: Time for our triangle attack!
BGM: PSYCHIC FIRE
Alexa, Húxiān and Setsuna formed a triangle and fired their HSM missiles.
The missile managed to hit an unknown aircraft!
???: Ugh!
Count: Trigger, Húxiān and Setsuna hit the target with a difficult maneuver!
Long Caster: Good! You're seeing right through their illusions!
The unknown planes are now on Alexa's tail.
???: Alright, Scream, keep them hanging!
???: Okie dokie!
The unknowns switch the ECM!
Long Caster: Trigger, the enemy's switched up their ECM!
Skald: It's a lock breaker.
The unknowns and their ECM works their tricks.
Count: Did you see that?! They've painted canopies on their bellies!
Skald: If they're thinking canopies and decoys will save them, they're dead wrong!
Húxiān fired a missile that hit the unknown, while in the triangle formation.
Húxiān: Got one, but it's not taken out yet!
Then the unknown is behind the triangle.
Unknown 1: I got this one! Take the shot!
Unknown 2: *evil chuckle* I'll tear her apart!
The unknowns fired a missile, but Setsuna performed an fearsome Kvochur bell maneuver.
Unknown 1: How in the world?!
Unknown 2: How can she dodge this one with such a difficult maneuver?!
Unknown 1: Everybody's looking for somebody to do their dirty work.
Setsuna locked on the unknown target and fired her TAAM and hit it.
Unknown 2: She's after me! And she's very good!
Unknown: Hang in there, Scream!
Unknown 2: She hit me good! She's extremely good!
Unknown 1: Return the favor; eliminate that formation and kill that Three Strikes!
Unknown 2: Oh, I'll kill her! I'll kill her, alright!
Húxiān: Confirmed hit! You are quite sharp as ever, Setsuna-san!
Setsuna: And a nice hit from you, Húxiān!
Count: God, this is annoying!
Unknown 1: Oof!!
The time for the unknowns is up and they are forced to retreat.
Unknown 1: Damn! Scream! We have to pull out! We can't take down Three Strikes with damaged planes!
Unknown: Ugh! Goddammit!!
Unknown transmission.
Scream: Three Strikes, I will have you and your friends! You will die!
The Mimics are retreating.
Count: What?!
Skald: Am I hearing things?
Húxiān: Nah, I hear it too.
Count: Hey, those filthy bats are on the run!
Alexa: Count. We better let them go.
Clemens: Trigger's right. Let them go for now. Secure the airspace and protect our allies!
Húxiān: Wilco. I did an admirable move with you, Alexa!
Alexa: No doubt!
Clemens: That's what I like to see! I'm also pretty impressed by that formation in battle!
Skald: Those bats are using Osean comms equipment!
Karibuchi: We'll find and worry about it later, right now, focus on this task.
Alexa and the teams destroy more and more fighters.
New transmission.
Long Caster: Additional hostiles confirmed. We're detecting surface-to-ship weapons teams around the sub. Eliminate them!
Kanata: Hanamaru and I are on it!
OF 4: Stay in formation!
Hanamaru eliminated the ground enemies on the left and Kanata with Haruka destroyed the ground enemies on the right.
Long Caster: All ground targets destroyed! Well done!
Wiseman: This takes away the enemy's surface-to-ship capabilities. Fine work, Qu4rtz 3 and Azalea 3!
Hanamaru: We did what we could do-zura!
Enchanter 1: Ignore the other aircraft! Focus on ESM!
Count: They are not retreating! The submarine must mean the world to them.
Alexa: No doubt about it.
Alexa and Setsuna launched a laser attack and destroyed 2 Su-34s.
EF 37: Break right! Now!
The Su-34s are intercepted and eliminated.
Airey: Prep the choppers! Let the LRSSG take care of the enemy aircraft!
Puffin: A friendly shot down the Su-34 approaching the fleet! We owe you one!
Alicorn CDO: Captain? They're ready for take off, sir. They're prepared to sacrifice their lives to carry the cargo.
Torres: Beautiful…
Alicorn CDO: Captain?
Torres: Don't you see? It's… a ritual. A ritual to end the lives of men. How many must we sacrifice to put them to rest?
Puffin: Captain, it's Three Strikes and her crews. They've tied down the enemy birds.
Airey: Our men just make it through.
Helicopter pilot 1: Helicopter prepared! We are ready for takeoff!
Airey: I'll be right behind you, guys! Take up the assault-and-capture team now!
Helicopter pilot 1: Got it!
The helicopters with Captain Airey and the assault-and-capture task force onboard have been taken off from the landing ship.
Alicorn CDO: The supercapacitor's charged.
Torres: Great!
Alicorn CDO: Target in sights. Main gun manned and ready.
Drake 2: We've got this! Three Strikes and his squadron are with us!
Alexa flies west for more enemy fighters to arrive.
EF 38: Watch out, 'cause it's gonna be raining missiles soon!
Alexa attacks the enemy fighters.
Drake 5: Even from here, that submarine looks huge!
Ayumu also defeated an enemy fighter.
EF 40: How'd we lose so many of our fighters?!
EF 41: If we can destroy the landing ship, we can sink their plans along with it!
EF 42: It's too late already! The Osean choppers on the landing ship have been taken off!
And after many minutes of shooting down the enemy fighters…
Erusean HQ: Alicorn, do you copy? We cannot stop the approaching enemy landing ship! Scuttle the sub immediately!
Torres: *sigh* Fools… As of now, this boat no longer belongs to the Erusean military!
Erusean HQ: What are you saying?!
Torres: Don't you see?
Several minutes later… time's up.
Long Caster: Puffin, this is Long Caster. Enemy's resistance is dwindling and we've almost secured air superiority.
Airey: Puffin copies! We are already on the air and we are on their way with our copters! Commencing capture operation!
Long Caster: The rest is all yours, Captain. Now I can finally have my sausage rolls.
Airey: That's the kind of food you eat up there?
Long Caster: Of course. Anything other than finger food would get in the way of my duties.
Count: That clearly wasn't what she meant.
Clemens: Hmph. Took longer than expected. I'll be leaving now. You take command from here on.
Wiseman: Whew! Well done, pilots!
Alexa: Thank you!
And then on the submarine…
Torres: Then slow ahead both engines.
The submarine begins to move.
Airey: Are you sure?
Takarazuka Captain: Yes, I am very sure!
Airey: Landing ship Puffin to all active units! Enemy submarine has started moving!
Puffin: What?!
Torres: Commence firing!
Alicorn Crew: Main guns, commence fire!
Puffin Officer: Bearing 180, cruising at 5 knots! Movements on the decks, it's their aircra–
The Alicorn fired the ASM and railguns on the Osean ships and the landing ship. All of the ships are wiped out in one shot.
Alexa: What in the world?! Airey, do you read me?
Airey: We read you, Strider 1! Did you see it?
Alexa: Indeed I saw it! Airey, Retreat to the destroyer Takarazuka! Land there!
Airey: Copy! Landing to the SN Takarazuka! You can thank Karibuchi for saving us!
Alexa: I'll send her my regards!
Captain Tosokazu: Alicorn fired on the Osean fleet! With her railguns!
The landing ship is destroyed! It's sinks!
Airey and the team has escaped to the choppers! No damage on the choppers!
The Alicorn moves, while on the deck 4 Rafales take off.
Long Caster: Confirming launch of submarine-based aircraft! Four birds! And it appears one of them is carrying a cruise missile.
Count: What?!
Húxiān: What in the world...?!
Skald: What happened?!
New transmissions.
Wiseman: Listen up! You need to take that bird down! Hurry!
Alexa: You! Yohane! Setsuna! Let's go after them! Ayumu, Hanayo, stay with Hanamaru and Kanata!
You, Yohane, Ayumu, Setsuna and Hanayo: Yokai!
*Radio traffic noises*
David: Patch me in. Do you hear me? David North here. There's a possibility that the cruise missile is a WMD!
Setsuna: Nani?!
You: We gotta stop it!
Skald: That doesn't sound good!
Count: Hey! What about that submarine?!
Wiseman: Priority is to take down the sub-based aircraft! Forget the submarine!
Don't lose them! Shoot them down!
Count: Damn it!
Alexa, Yohane, You and Setsuna are chasing them and are ready to shoot the squad down.
Húxiān: Trigger and some of the School Idols caught up to them.
Skald: Scrap them, Trigger!
Alexa: We're on it! Yohane, you first!
Yohane: They won't stand a chance against the fallen angel!
On the submarine…
Torres: Open the vents! Fill all ballast tanks! Full speed ahead once we're underway!
SN sailor 7: Enemy submarine is going under!
Húxiān: Not good!
Count: That monster'll roam the oceans.
Yohane shot down the first enemy fighter named SACS.
SACS 4: Captai–
*comms breakdown*
Yohane: Got one of them!
Alexa: You-chan!
You: I'll take it!
Alexa: The one with the WMD is mine!
SACS 3 is shot down by You and her F-35C.
Torres: Heed my words!
Long Caster: Bandit down!
SACS 2: For salva—
*comms breakdown*
SACS 2 was shot down by Setsuna.
Setsuna: Just one left! Take him down, Alexa!
Alexa: Better hurry!
Skald: The submarine is submerged now. Where do the sub-based aircraft intend to land?
Húxiān: It could just be a one-way ticket.
Alexa: Likely, Húxiān.
On the Alicorn's comms.
Torres: This boat has the means to end this hideous war, in a definitive and elegant manner.
We seek not a conflict, but rather a restoration of balance… a judgment.
And it will be done with reason, from beginning to end!
The world shall be horrified by the number of lives we will take.
Only then will they let go of their weapons…
…Weapons that would have taken the lives of ten million!
Count: Is this coming from the submarine?
Húxiān: I can tell he's insane, even across the radio.
Skald: But he sounds determined, as well. Definitely dangerous.
Alexa hunts for the perfect shot and finally she shoots down the enemy Rafale, armed with the cruise missile.
Alexa: Target down! Everyone brace!
Skald: Yes!
SACS 1: Salvatio–
The Rafale and the missile exploded.
Long Caster: Target's destruction confirmed!
Alexa: *winded* I have him…
You: Alexa! Are you okay?!
Alexa: I'm good. David, did you get the words from Captain Torres?
David: I have it recorded. Alex and I will sort everything out.
Alexa: Phew. I wouldn't imagine what would happen when he escaped!
On the radio of the Alicorn,
Alicorn CDO: …Seems that the team has been taken out by Three Strikes and a team of School Idols.
Torres: Well, that damn bastard ruined it.
Alicorn CDO: Captain?
Torres: Don't you see? She might have walked barefoot all over the crisp, white sheets of my bed that I had just made! Even along with her unknown friends I don't even know about!
With the same barefoot feet she stepped like water over my bed at a urinal!
*huff* *puff*
Anyway, let's have her assist us in the next plan.
It'll make a fine sideshow for our scheme to kill a million people. Or was it the plan to save ten million lives, Command Duty Officer? *chuckle*
Alicorn CDO: Both, and I wasn't listening!
Torres: You better listen much clearer next time, okay?
The Alicorns radio turned off and they are moving further to their next plan.
Meanwhile…
Karibuchi: Alexa, here follows the last intercepted transmission.
Alexa: Let me hear it.
*radio noise effect*
Unknown Voice: …Three Strikes is still up and flying.
Rage: We're going to get her on the next run… or is the contract terminated? No refunds.
Unknown voice: That would cause you more problems, Dalsen siblings. A hitman's reputation is everything.
…Wait for orders.
Karibuchi: That's all of the transmission.
Alexa: Looks like somebody is involved in the plan to kill me at least.
Karibuchi: Yes, the Dalsen duo and someone is connecting with them. Who could it be?
Alexa: I don't know. All flights, let's go back. Destroyer Takarazuka, bring Airey and the teams to the Sakamoto.
All the flights are returning to the base and Alexa and the School Idols are returning to the SN Sakamoto.
Debriefing Osean Forces
Clemens: The operation has been completed. Stand by for further orders.
Skald: Hold on! We still don't know who those bats were! Why were they after Trigger? They were using Osea's radio frequency! You mean they're on our side?
Clemens: Impossible. They didn't respond to our IFF.
Or maybe... they were there to settle a personal score.
There's nothing unusual about being shot in the back by an ally.
Count: Guess it might've been that way where we came from, but... You know what I'm sayin', Trigger?
Alexa(Webcam): Agreed, Count. I think they hate me from what I was doing.
David(Radio): Everyone, here's a question.
Clemens: That's enough. Remove him from the call.
David(Radio): Wait, wait, don't hang up on me yet!
How did the Alicorn know that we'd go after those aircraft?
Wiseman: There's even the slightest chance they're carrying weapons of mass destruction, then we'd have to chase them.
David(Radio): How did they know that we had intelligence on their weapons of mass destruction?
They never would've taken such actions if they didn't know.
Skald: ...They have a spy.
Clemens: Heh. Better to be suspicious than not, I suppose.
David(Radio): At the very least, we'll have to assume from here on out that they know everything that we do.
Debriefing School Idols Air Division
Alisa: Nicely done, School Idols and you too, Alexa.
We defeated so many air units!
However, the submarine has gotten away, and its now roaming free on the open sea.
Alexa, according to the transmissions intercepted by Agent Karibuchi, the hitman squadron that you faced during the battle, is really on it to kill you.
You better be extremely careful what their plan is. Do not hesitate to shoot them down if you have to.
For now, Karibuchi is still working to find the man behind the plan to kill you.
Get some rest while you can, everyone.
Debriefing ended.
At David's home office...
While looking at the computer...
David: Another question, Alex.
Captain Matias Torres, the captain of the Alicorn... What is his goal?
Alex: There are 21 likely targets.
As shown by the map of Strangereal and in the Usea Continent.
Alex: The number of main routes...
David: Wrong.
Alex calculates.
Alex: ...to the targets is 2405.
David: You've been too logical.
Alex: Want me to define "main"?
David: Alex, can you be more... uh, sensory?
Logical board switched to sensory board.
Alex: What do you mean?
David: Make me a collage of Torres' quotes. Work freely. Keep my hypothesis in mind.
The first quote:
Torres: "Life taken by cheap kills of forward projectional sea power."
David: No good.
Alex: No good?
David: Alex!
Alex: Sorry...
David: Alright, let's go on. Try to be a little more... sensuous.
The second quote:
Torres: "Monstrous 16752 and salvation of passivity."
David: Okay.
The third quote:
Torres: "Vulgarity of six per minute a forward security."
David: Good.
The fourth quote:
Torres: "Will of nuclear retaliation on death."
The fifth quote:
Torres: "160 millimeter where massacre is placed by mass planning."
David: More logically!
The sixth quote:
Torres: "Salvation of ten million an elegant massacre upon the cage continents."
David: Stop! That's... Ah. Correct... or is it?
David is puzzling of the sixth quote of Torres.
That evening... on the Sakamoto.
21:00 PM
Alexa's (Trigger's)P.O.V.
I'm now at a small cafe of the Kazuno sisters build inside the Sakamoto. I couldn't get it out of my head why a squadron of hitmans is trying to kill me.
Sarah and Leah are making tea ready for me and three new people are making a nice cup of coffee and some Takoyaki.
Their names who are making a hot tasty coffee are Kanon and Aria Shibuya, and the one making Takoyaki is Chisato Arashi.
Kanon and Chisato are also School Idols, Kanon and an another School Idol named Keke are the ones who created their brand of School Idol group named Liella!
Kanon and Chisato are childhood friends during their times when they're little kids.
Some months ago, Miyafuji asked the Yuigaoka Girls High School principal to request 3 School Idols will be assigned until the end of the war.
The principal has decided that Kanon, Chisato and Shiki are going to work to the carrier for supplying food and building specialized weapons for our planes.
Wakana Shiki is a rising female scientist with many gadgets and experimental science stuff, she's also a bit shy like Rina.
Sarah: Here's your tea, Alexa! Our special tea from North Satsuma!
Alexa: Thanks, Sarah and Leah!
Kanon: And here's the beautiful coffee and Chii-chan's Takoyaki!
Alexa: Thanks, Kanon-chan!
I enjoyed the the tea first. And then Sarah and Leah wanted to ask something.
Sarah: I heard from Karibuchi, that you've been hunted by the team of hitmans, is it correct?
Alexa: Yeah, I must keep myself on my toes if they are coming back to hunt me. And find that huge submarine.
Alexa bit one of the takoyakis and...
Alexa: That's tasty!
Kanon: Yeah, you can thank Chii-chan for that!
Alexa: I will!
Sarah: They also uses some ECM to pull some tricks on you! They want a score to settle.
Alexa: Agreed.
Sarah: So please, Alexa. For the next mission, get the two of us ready. Leah and me. We'll deal with those mercenaries with the tricks we have.
Alexa: Just watch your backs if you can, all right?
Leah: We'll do our job.
And so we continued our conversation until it's bedtime.
End of Chapter 16.
Wow, this is the longest chapter I've worked so far! For the next chapter, I think that chapter will have to be split up in two parts. Will the Alicorn show up on Anchorhead Bay, and for the Mimic Squadron, can Sarah and Leah stop the Dalsen siblings and protect Alexa?
Kanon, Chisato and Shiki are also from Love Live!, but they hadn't been chosen to fly.
Find it out next time! And a happy Valentines Day!