In this part of the chapter, I've watched some of the videos that Mimic against other squadrons, like Maverick and Goose from Top Gun: Maverick, and the good guys win always. So, let's see what Mimic will face a double encounter.
School Idols of the Lighthouse War
Chapter 17.3
Mimic Squadron vs Saint Snow Squadron
15 minutes earlier, while Alexa was returning from an attack from the Anchorhead Harbor...
Sarah: Are you ready, Saint Snow 2?
Leah: Ready, Saint Snow 1!
SATC: Saint Snow, you are cleared for take-off!
And by then, Sarah took off first, while Leah goes second to launch.
And by an altitude of 4000 meters...
SATC: Altitude restrictions lifted, Saint Snow team. Good luck out there!
Leah: Saint Snow 2 copies, heading on the way now.
20 minutes after take-off...
Sarah: Leah, 2 bogies inbound. Bearing 090, 2 kms!
Leah: Alexa should be nearby! We can't afford to let her be dead! It will fail the mission!
Sarah: Correct! Let's give the enemy a taste of our style!
Leah: Yeah, bring it on!
Just nearby...
A missile flies straight to Lanza.
Lanza: Ngh!
Lanza tried to avoid it, but then he got hit.
Count: Lanza!
Long Caster: Strider 3 is hit!
Alexa: Where did that attack come from?!
Trigger and Count flies immediately where the missile came from.
Rage and Scream came from behind.
Rage: Good, now we have less goons to deal with. Do it, Scream!
Scream: Yeah!
Count: Ugh. It's those damn bats!
Rage: That's right! And we are gonna kill Three Strikes this time!
Transmission
Wiseman: Engage to-- Wait!
Long Caster: 2 more bogies inbound! Both also Su-47s!
Count: What?! Are they hostile?!
The 2 Su-47s appear on the southwest.
BGM: Believe Again!
Sarah: Alexa-san!
Alexa: Sarah-san!
Leah: We'll take it from here! Get back to the Sakamoto! Escort your wingman to safety!
Count: Really?! We are about to...
Leah: ...Kick the party? Yes, but leave those bats to us!
Alexa: Wiseman, the Saint Snow members are my allies! They will deal with them!
Wiseman: Copy that.
Jaeger: Count, get back to base now!
Count: What?!
Jaeger: Do it!
Trigger and Count left the AO, while Saint Snow faces Mimic Squadron.
Wiseman: Saint Snow, engage to let the rest of Strider Squadron to escape! I'm calling off the withdrawal!
Count: Lanza, you all right?!
Lanza: Ah! Both of you, watch out for their missiles! The missile alert didn't go off in time! It hit me as soon as I heard it!
Count: You got enough air in your lungs to bitch about it. Trigger and I are also leaving the area. Pull out, Lanza!
Lanza: Yeah, will do!
Long Caster: It may be that the enemy's missiles have stealth capabilities! Their missiles may hit you immediately after your missile alert goes off!
Sarah: So that's the trick of the enemy!
Saint Snow and Mimic are now prepared for a air battle.
Rage: Scream, those planes, I've never seen them before! Their aircraft are just like us!
Scream: Agreed! Let's kill those pilots first!
Clemens: ...Calling out to unidentified aircraft! Cease combat immediately and withdraw!
Leah: Huh? What's going on, Long Caster?
Long Caster: Brigadier General Clemens is radioing the enemy aircraft... on Osean channels!
Sarah: We are already engaged with them! Firing our own stealth missiles!
Sarah fires a stealth missile on one of the Mimics.
Clemens: I repeat, withdraw!
Rage: Don't want anyone thinking to be screwed up. They're going down!
Leah: Not if we have to say about it!
Clemens: You goddamn idiots!
Scream: You call me an idiot again, I'll kill you!
Rage: What... What was that? Whoa!
Rage got hit by a missile, fired by Sarah.
Clemens: Nicely done! Good shot!
Rage: For hitmen, one's reputation is everything. Your very own words.
Scream: *evil laugh*
Clemens: You siblings can go to hell together!
Leah: Brother and sister? That's odd.
Sarah: Time for our ECMs to work.
Leah: Let's do this, onee-chan!
Both Sarah and Leah have activated their ECM, and this one is a bit more effective; the enemy's stealth missiles are fastly discovered. And if Mimic tries to shoot them, the missiles are quickly discovered and the missile alert is quickly going off by both Sarah and Leah.
Rage: Damn, they knew that our missiles would come and fire, they immediately evade that attack we throw!
And at that point…
Leah: Closing in on Mimic 2.
Sarah: Go after Mimic 2, I'll go after Mimic 1!
Leah: Roger that, onee-chan!
The Saint Snow team is now after the 2 Mimics. Sarah goes after Rage, while Leah takes Scream.
Sarah: That's it, Leah! We're on their six! It's two-on-two, imouto! We won't lose!
Scream: You girls can't win! We are more experienced than you! There's no chance, hahaha!
Sarah: Not if we deal with you and the marker drones first!
Leah: No hitman is gonna take out our new Osean friends!
Scream: Then you better stop acting tough if you don't wanna die real fast, girl!
Leah: I'd like to see you try!
Long Caster: The bats seem to have enhanced their ECM capabilities.
Sarah: Got it, let's do the same.
Rage: Stay still!
Sarah: I ain't!
Leah: We have to keep on them!
Mimic and Saint Snow are attempting to shoot each other down, while the Alicorn continues to fire shells.
Long Caster: Caution! Detecting powerful ECM! Don't let them trick you!
Leah: Let's see if they can survive this one! Firing a tracking stealth missile!
Leah launched a tracking stealth missile on Scream.
Scream: Try to get us, you fools!
Leah's missile managed to hit Scream.
Scream: Ow! Wait, have they copied our missiles?!
Rage: I'll fire!
Rage fired a missile on Sarah, but Sarah evaded it.
Rage: How can she dodge that one?!
Long Caster: The bats are so damn slippery!
Sarah: We'll freeze them with our skill!
Scream fired some missiles, but Leah evaded the enemy missiles with a new side-knife ability.
Scream: Damn, she dodged it! But what maneuver was that?!
Rage: I'll take point!
Leah: Enemy missile, onee-chan! Watch it!
Sarah evaded the enemy stealth missile successfully with an inside loop.
Rage: Wow! Those pilots are pretty well skilled!
Sarah: Watch your surroundings, Leah!
Leah: Snow 2 copies!
Sarah: Looks like they have some tricks, but we have some new ideas!
Sarah fired an another missile and it hit Rage.
Rage: I'm taking a hit!
Scream: You all right?!
Rage: Still good. But I think we might have messed with the wrong team!
Scream: Yeah. But we won't give up!
Sarah eliminated an enemy drone that was used by the Alicorn.
Scream: This is tougher than I thought!
The air battle continues while performing ace pilot skills.
Leah: Sarah, let's change our frequency, they're listening in from what we are doing.
Sarah: Okay.
*changing frequency*
Leah: …Right, now it's the two of us on the line.
Sarah: Right.
Leah: Okay, they are looking for a pincer attack. So are we.
Sarah: Correct: If one of them is behind us, take it out! They don't know much about us, but they will find out sooner or later.
*frequency change*
Scream: Okay, Rage. This has gone long enough! Let's get the one in that blue aircraft!
Rage: Go for it!
Sarah: Watch your tail!
Rage: We're not retreating, and neither will you! We end this here and now!
Leah: And we'll be the last ones flying! Fox 3!
Leah fired the missiles and it hit both Scream and a drone.
Scream: You ain't catching me!
Clemens: Saint Snow team, shoot them down, no matter what!
Leah: We do what we can!
After some flying maneuvers.
Scream: They aren't screwing around! Wait a moment…
Rage: What is it?
Scream: Those markings… Uh oh. Rage, we'll face a deadly and honorable foe.
Rage: Indeed, those are Satsuman pilots! These pilots will stop at nothing!
Sarah: Now you know us! But it's far too late for you to find out!
Leah: Yeah! And we won't stop until our mission is complete!
After more flight maneuvers…
Sarah: So that's how you two fly, huh. We also have some flying that you won't expect!
Long Caster: Dirty tricks aren't all they got. They're both ace material!
Sarah: You're PMC, aren't you? That's why you've got connections with the Osean military!
Rage: You'll have to shoot us out of the sky if you want an answer from us!
Sarah: Gladly. Leah!
Leah: Fox 3!
Leah fired the stealth missiles and it finally destroyed Scream.
Scream: Waaaaah!
*comms breakdown*
Scream is shot down and perished.
Rage: Elke, no! Dammit! You two will pay for it!
Leah: Bandit down! I got her!
Sarah: Just one more! I'll deal with him!
BGM: DROPOUT?!
Leah: We'll run him down! But the last shot is yours, Onee-chan!
Rage: Oh, I'll kill you! I'll kill you both, alright!
Long Caster: Don't let the enemy's emotions make you lose your cool.
Leah: We won't, Long Caster.
Sarah shot another missile at Rage and she hit him while Rage was trying a Kulbit.
Rage: I'll kill you both! *evil crazy laughing* I'll kill you both!
Leah: He's nuts!
Sarah: Almost.
Long Caster: They might be one left, but don't let your guard down.
Leah: Onee-chan, finish him off!
Leah shot down another marker drone.
Rage: How dare you! She was my one and only…!
*radio screech*
Rage: You're going down!
Rage fired a missile, but she evaded the missile fast.
Sarah fired a missile and hit Rage again.
Leah: Keep it up!
Rage: You managed to hit me, but still not enough to take me out!
Sarah is now on the rear of Rage's plane, ready to take her shot.
Sarah: On his rear! Haiya!
Sarah shot her perfect missile shot and finally destroyed Rage's plane.
Rage: Aaaaaaaaggh! Scream!
Long Caster: That's a hit! We got the bat!
Leah: Nice shot, Onee-chan!
Sarah: *exhausted* I got him. Finally!
Leah: Take that, you villain!
Rage: Ugh… Scream…! You…! *exhausted*
Rage: *evil laughter* It's just what I imagined… No matter what we do, this is how we end it. …But know this, I'd rather go to hell than live in a world shaped by you! So yeah, we'll be heading there now, also, good game.
Long Caster: Unidentified aircraft, eject.
Rage: Ugh! *evil laughter*
Long Caster: Eject, now!
Rage: I gotta catch up to her—
*comms breakdown*
Rage's plane exploded, and Rage died inside.
Long Caster: The bat's blip has disappeared from our radar. At that altitude he's flying, it likely has crashed.
Leah: That'll teach them to mess with us and our friends. Serves them right.
Clemens: Ah. Yes, the problem has been eliminated.
Sarah: Indeed. But you, Brigadier General, you have a lot to answer for your act. Leah, let's go back to the aircraft carrier, we can't let Alexa wait for too long.
Leah: Roger, onee-chan.
Alicorn Gunner: Pitch angle at 1.2 degrees!
Torres: Meet us at the drop-off point. Three Strikes and those School Idols have eradicated all straggler Erusean forces. Now that was the finest sideshow I've ever seen in my life.
Quarkman: I have no doubt that the plan to save 10 million lives will lead Erusea to true victory.
Torres: Stop thinking so small. It's salvation on a far grander scale! …And your efforts will bring that about.
The Saint Snow flight team returns to the aircraft carrier and 40 minutes later, the Alicorn has supplied and left the harbor unchecked.
Debriefing Osean Military
Húxiān is angered about what happened in the mission. She stormed to the briefing room, along with Yu, Kotori, Maki and Shizuku.
Húxiān: You bastard!
Wiseman: Húxiān!
Lanza: Hey, chill...
Wiseman: Húxiān, stand down! Sit!
Húxiān sat down.
Lanza: Oh man, my cola...
Lanza is not happy when his cola got spilled.
Shizuku brought 2 new cola bottles, one for Lanza, his own got spilled on the floor. And one for herself.
Shizuku: Here, Lanza-san.
Lanza: Thank you, Ms. Osaka. Look like I have my new cola.
Clemens: The fleet at Anchorhead was eliminated, and we've prevented the submarine from joining forces. The unidentified aircraft were shot down too.
The mission is a complete success.
Húxiān: Complete success, as if!
Yu: Brigadier General, the enemy pilots are siblings... How did you know them? Saint Snow learned it from you.
Count: Sure seemed they know you, too.
Clemens: Ms. Takasaki, I know that you wanted an answer from me, but... they ARE my family at least. And Count, you seemed to be confused. Report in for a medical check.
We'll decide if you are're still fit for service based on the examinations.
Count and Húxiān stood up, they don't take it lightly.
Wiseman: Cut it!
Clemens: That's enough!
Yu: Everyone, stop it. Maki, call the MP!
???: She's right. Get the MP.
Clemens: Vice Chairman Edwards of the Joint Chiefs of Staff?!
Yu: Gomenasai, Edwards-san!
Edwards: Please, do not apologize. Wing Commander Yu Takasaki. You did what is neccesary, and I believe you made the right call.
Anyway, the Alicorn slipped into Anchorhead Bay after the mission was completed, using the confusion for cover. It resupplied quickly and escaped unharmed.
Their goal was not to join forces. It was to resupply using the window we created by chasing away the Erusean forces.
We did their bidding, albeit unknowingly.
But the problem runs deeper than our lack of tactical acumen. Analyst North and Agent Karibuchi, explain for us.
David (radio): Of the crew caught in the submarine accident, 330 men made it back alive. Of them, 300 are still on the sub today.
Our own intel has led us to believe that some or all of the 30 men who left the sub are now working as agents for the Alicorn.
Sabotage, espionage, cyber propaganda, dissemination of false intel...
Karibuchi(Webcam): Brigadier General, do you recognize the name Edgar Saxon--or Zul, as he used to go by?
He is a former member of the Alicorn's crew... and he's your source of intel!
Edwards: You are a fool, Brigadier General Howard Clemens!
Not only that, the radio communications during the mission suggests, that you are a traitor.
Karibuchi: The mission communication records have all been turned over to the court of inquiry.
Clemens: Sir, if you check with Lieutenant General Shepherd, you'll understand that this is all just a misunderstanding!
Edwards: Both the Lieutenant General and Air Commander Miyafuji claim that you were responsible for handling all aspects to the mission.
School Idol Pilots, Miyafuji had called me for a major reason, she knew already during the mission, some of our senior officers know that some of the pilots of yours flew with grace and style, and one of them has whispered in my ear that he has been called by both her and Agent Karibuchi, that something's not right in the war room.
So please, forgive us for the entire intrusion for what happened!
Yu: There is no need for that. We knew something was fishy! And we knew that the Brigadier General was up to something!
So, let our units continue to fight.
Edwards: You have my word. ...Now, let me say it again: Get the MP!
Maki: Already called them!
Húxiān: No need for that! Take this!
Húxiān punched the Brigadier General unconcious.
The MP has arrived and Brigadier General Clemens is arrested for treason. The MPs took him away.
Edwards gave Húxiān a little warning for her act. But she's forgiven.
Edwards: Yu? Thanks for everything for dealing with the traitor. That fool will surely learn his place.
Yu: It's no problem, sir.
Edwards: It's good to have more female pilots in the fight. They will be very equal with the male pilots.
Yu: They will be.
Edwards: Anyway, I'll have to go. Give Miyafuji and Ms. Hailstone my regards.
Yu: Of course I will.
Debriefing School Idols Air Division
Alisa: Honoka-chan, Eli-chika, You-chan, Alexa-san, and Sarah and Leah, great job annihilating the enemy naval force and the port. The enemy will never recover from that blow we delivered.
Sarah and Leah, nice job defeating the hitman squadron. These siblings are very dangerous, but you sisters did an incredible job by shooting them down.
Also, Miyafuji has called me that the Osean Brigadier General who sent that hitman team was arrested for treason and attempted murder on Alexa.
Also, the submarine has escaped again after being resupplied.
We don't know what it's supplying, but that thing one day, it will not get away from us.
Debriefing ended.
David North connects with the LRSSG Base and he found some intel, Miyafuji, Karibuchi, Alexa, Honoka and Eli's communication webcams are also online.
David: We've acquired important intel from the mission.
For example, the shells from long-range anti-air fire came in on depressed trajectories. Look.
As revealed from the maximum range of the trajectory of the Alicorn confirms.
David: The estimated energy output of the railgun is 500 megajoules at least. Fired at minimum-energy trajectory, range is over 3,000. They hid a powerful rail cannon aside from their main guns.
Skald: It's almost like Stonehenge…
Jaeger: A mobile Stonehenge!
David: And also… this. The Alicorn was in harbor at Anchorhead for approximately ten minutes. They couldn't have loaded SLBMs. They loaded something smaller.
Húxiān: …Smaller?
David: What is smaller and yet a powerful weapon?
Everyone is thinking.
Skald: Tactical nukes.
Karibuchi: You're close! The answer is tactical nuclear shells.
As seen from a schematic of a tactical nuclear shell round of the railgun.
Húxiān: Nuclear shells?!
Count: No way!
Lanza: Hey, hey, he got that question right!
Skald: Nah, I missed the "shell" part.
Jaeger: Quiet!
Shizuku: So where are they going to use it?
Karibuchi: Good question, Osaka-san. Where?
Wiseman: They'll likely attack our bases on the east coast of Usea.
David: Their target's Oured. The Osean capital.
As revealed on the map of Osea…
Eli(Webcam): You're kidding!
Lanza: They want a nuclear war…?
Honoka(webcam): That's really horrifying news!
Miyafuji(webcam): That's right, Otonokizaka Squadron leader. They want to do it on a special day.
David: Then here's this question. What's a situation where nuclear deterrence doesn't work?
Húxiān: Quiz guy, I've had enough of this!
Skald: Oh! Only if the terrorists have the nukes.
David: Correct!
Lanza: Damn, Skald!
Skald: Hey, I'm good at trivia games.
Count: But we're after an Erusean submarine, not terrorists.
Wiseman: No, he's right. HQ tells me that Erusea's justification is that the Alicorn mutinied.
Miyafuji(Webcam): So to say, Torres and his crew have decided to go rogue during the mission in Artiglio.
"As such, the Erusean military cannot be held responsible for the submarine's actions."
Húxiān: Damn.
Alexa(webcam): Then, what is his ultimate goal?
David: So they intend on dropping a nuke on the Osean capital of Oured.
Count: Then here's a question for you, analyst. Just exactly who are we fighting?
David: The correct term is "terrorist" or "irregular military," but I have a different name for them.
"An enemy to be stopped at all costs."
Wiseman: Correct.
The Alicorn is slowly moving to it's destination, Oured.
End of Chapter 17.3.
With Mimic Squadron eliminated thanks to the Saint Snow Squadron, and Clemens is arrested. The Alicorn is planning to nuke Oured. Can Trigger and LRSSG, as well as her School Idols stop this massive submarine for destroying Oured before it's too late?
See it next time in the next chapters.