Bab 8: Real Battle Begin
"ORAAH!!"
For half an hour, I relentlessly mowed down wave after wave of the BETA forces. Various signs of damage adorned my aircraft, from scratches and scorched surfaces to various other wear and tear. However, despite the accumulating damage, my aircraft maintained peak performance without any indication of slowing down. Showing how the power of Ace Combat power can truly affect the battle.
One wave after another, BETA approached from both land and underground, with their main goal of destroying the A-02.
"Go Fucking dammit! Why. Are. there. Soo. many." I glanced out the window and was met with a horde of thousands upon thousands of BETA blanketing the ground, surging in all directions.
The BETA around my vicinity had multiplied several times over, transforming a once hundred-strong presence into a horde of thousands. Trying their best to reach A-02 to destroy humanity's hope and dream.
I have been repeatedly doing strafing runs using the machine gun, Missle, and Ungided Bomb seeing they are pretty effective considering the number of BETA crawling all over the ground.
It felt akin to an all-you-can-eat buffet, as the entire stretch of terrain was infested with BETA. I managed to annihilate up to 100 BETA within mere seconds during each rapid strafing run using a machine gun only.
Of course, the Laser Class has been ruining the fun as they keep locking on to me from 10 Km away and fire their meager laser which is pretty annoying since I have to dodge while doing an attack run.
But I almost reached my limit of endurance from doing too many post-stall maneuvers, with sweat streaming down my face and my eyes feeling so tired that I felt Like I wanted to take a long nap.
While I do not feel the G force, I still feel tired from the long period of battle. One or two hours is fine, but when it reaches 6 to 10 hours since the start of the battle? Even my body has a limit dammit. And my arms are sore from using the joystick too much.
<<00 unit is currently heading to the Whisky Unit, All units are prepared to defend 00 Unit to the evac site.>>
The evacuation of the 00 unit is already underway I gaze my eyes at the map and Saw it moving slowly away from the rest of Valkries heading out, Fucking finally! And the main objective will be completed as long as I can pull most of the BETA attention to me.
But it's only a matter of time until one of the members of Valkries dies and the optional mission fails. Because I am not protecting them.
Besides these BETA number being unbelievably high, there is a lot of BETA who manage to slip past me, Even after I give my all. Can't help it when there are literally 15.000 BETA, and I as the lone aircraft have to stop them with no assistance.
My ammo is also at 6%... [Damaged] is around 78%, only 12% until my aircraft going to be blown up. Very risky.
<<Hey!>>> I got out of the daze when I heard I wad call out
I looked at the source of the sound and saw another person had entered the video call but this time she did not have pink hair but Shoulder-length blue hair.
But I waste no time and ask <<Who are you?>>
<<Call me Lieutenant Kashiwagi Haruko! Remember that!>> she cheerfully introduced herself.
<<Uh huh... then what's your reason for your calling?>> I asked, trying to maintain my focus.
<<I want to say thanks for assisting me in killing the BETA! Defending A-02 has been a lot easier with you reducing the number of BETA coming at me!>>
Helping huh? It makes sense, The A-02 unit is currently on standby from falling down to the ground and the rest of the Valkyries Squadron is currently traveling the canyon in order to evacuate the 00 Unit with the map of the battlefield showing while leaving 1 TSF to guard the A-02 Unit, while the others try to restart the engine in the hope of evacuating the weapon.
But it is still one TSF guarding an entire A-02, and currently multiple enemy is approaching fast to her side. I already try my best to kill almost all of them, but it is still damn hard.
Gazing at Lieutenant Kashiwagi Haruko on the screen, I responded, <<It's good to know that my efforts have made a difference. How's the situation on your end?>>
<< Besides that I have to guard the A-02 alone? I am having a blast!>> I saw her body jumping left and right and the sound of a relentless gunshot can be heard in the video.<< Beside are you okay? There is blood dripping from your head>>
Blood? I released one of my arms from the joystick and brushed my forehead to clear away the blood. As soon as I did, I felt dampness, and upon inspecting my hand, I noticed the presence of blood.
Damn now I have a new scar, hopefully, my sister Elena won't notice unless I will face her wrath.
The short blue hair looked upon me in worried <<Are you okay? No need to force yourself, I was asked by Lieutenant Haruka to persuade you to leave>>
I flew lower to the ground and locked on the enemy before firing multiple missiles at the ground as another explosion on multiple sides of the BETA horde and glancing back at her <<No need to worry, I am still at full combat performance! You should worry yourself first seeing you are alone>>
<<HAh! And you yourself are fighting a horde of BETA alone! I am more worried that you Will die first.>>
Chuckles at her respond I replied <<There is a word that goes by, remember son dying is gay!>>
A chuckle resonated from the screen <<Pffttt, hahaha, what kind of saying is that?>>
<<It means that I can't die yet before I get myself a cute wife!>>
<<Heh.. Then I have to make sure to live long enough to get my self a husband>>
Thinking quickly, I proposed <<How about this? Whoever dies first is considered gay!>>
<<Bah! You're on!>> The blue-haired figure's smirk conveyed her readiness to accept the challenge.
Without anybody noticing, I was smiling like I had gone insane subconsciously. And begin the continuous attacks on the BETA as I won't let them pass my defense line.
But indeed she is right, I didn't have much time until I lost consciousness. I already force myself to keep moving, but I am reaching my limit soon in terms of endurance, And the injuries are just making it harder for me to ignore.
The Laser Class is not making it easy either as they keep shooting them from all over the battlefield.
...There is a way to defeat this bastard BETA and show them who the boss is.
Which is by destroying their reactor.
The reactor at the HIVE is always the main weakness of any enemy, if I could destroy them I could win this battle. By destroying the Reactor the BETA would have no choice but to retreat if they want to Resupply their daily energy.
That's why in any given operation the Orbital Divers's job is to drop straight to the BETA HQ underground and immediately destroy their Reactor.
Naturally, the BETA would do anything they could to stop the Orbital Divers. Right now HQ already lost contact with the said Orbital Divers, it's obvious they have already been defeated. So because of this reason, I am going to pick up where they left off.
The only problem? It is 1.200 Meters deep underground with various branches of a network like mazes, not to mention the number of BETA who are waiting underground just to ambush us.
That's why even though I already planned this in case I need to do solo, it is still a bad idea. So I consider it as the very last option in case all plans fail.
The good news is I don't have to do that since the Susano II Particle Cannon just gives me a pathway straight to the reactor.
The second problem is... I was not given permission by the system yet to destroy it.
Either I successfully destroy the reactor and the battle is won, Or the fact that I can not destroy the reactor and the squad I am supposed to protect will be killed since I was supposed to stop the BETA advance at all cost.
Which 50/50 gamble right now if I take it right now-
My thought was cut off when there was an explosion near me, killing 6 of the Tank Class.
That's...! I look up in the skyward witnessing shells raining down and explosions rippling across the BETA ranks all over the battlefield.
I directed my attention toward the sea, spotting a battleship and a Tsushima-class Gunboat. Smoke and fire emanated from their barrels.
Perplexity clouded my mind until an unknown voice chimed in through the comms: <<Excellent work holding them back, Butcher 1! Allow us to handle the rest!>> Wait, who was this?
Until the Lieutenant Haruka video appears on the screen <<Butcher 1! Ally ships have initiated long-range artillery bombardment. Seize this opportunity to evacuate to the safe zone!>> Oh...
Evacuate? Well... my plane is quite literally on fire, so I won't blame them for thinking that I am already pushing my aircraft to the limit. And I think I have done enough too seeing that the 00 unit is safe and the Susano II engine is being restarted.
However, I intended to seize this moment to decisively end the battle. Just hope she won't be mad.
I throttled my aircraft to full speed, heading straight for the Reactor and disregarding the BETA flock converging on the wreckage of the Susano II not before asking to tell them first. <<This is Butcher 1, heading straight to the enemy Reactor over>>
<<WHAT?! Butcher 1- >> I decided it was enough and completely shut the comms down. I have enough time to hear a woman scream in my ears.
Sorry, Operator. If there's an opportunity, I'll seek forgiveness.
As I keep avoiding the BETA and the allies shells raining upon the battlefield I manage to arrive at remnants of the hole left by the Susano II Particle Cannon's assault, I wasted no time, descending directly into it.
As I journeyed deeper toward the Reactor through the cavity created by the Susano II, memories of the past resurfaced.
Ah... I recalled the sentiment often echoed among Ace Combat fans whenever tunnels were involved. It's not Ace Combat if there is no Tunnel Mission on it, ahh... I miss that time.
As I kept heading toward the enemy HIVE the enemy seemed to notice my intention as the enemy Laser that targeted me steadily increased until I finally got too much that I was hit.
"Guh!"
I noticed the damage has increased to 81%, and smoke has already appeared on several parts of the aircraft even a few burning parts. As I continued to Dodge while activating the trust at full power I thought to myself, What's with these Laser Class choosing to kill me first instead of the Battleship shells?
...Don't tell me that these monsters consider me a threat. However, before I could delve further, I reached my destination.
My attention was fixed on the extraterrestrial structure called the Reactor. Resembling an egg, it bore a vivid, alien blue hue, distinct from anything earthly. So, this was the BETA reactor...
Before I could fully take it in, a [Warning] sign blared, locking onto me. Unprepared, I was pummeled by the Laser Class's assault.
As the [Damaged] screen shows I feel the scorching heat from the Laser Class on the plane, and I notice my plane has reached 89% bringing dread to me.
Guh... I refused to meet my end today! I still hadn't settled my sister's bills. With full anger consuming me I look at where the Laser class coming from and activate the full thrust to eliminate the laser Class around first before eliminating the Reactor.
As I lock on the Laser Class I fire the missile and [Destroyed] Screen blares once it arrives, I continue my job of eliminating all of the Laser Class around the reactor as circle around and dodging the Laser.
Before I knew it all of the laser Class was eliminated and only the Reactor stood before me, and the rest of BETA who can not kill someone who is up in the air left.
With the area under control, I unleashed a relentless barrage of missiles and machine gun fire upon the Reactor, carefully modulating the thrust of my Thunderbolt II. The explosions reverberated as the Reactor's outer casing bore the brunt of the damage.
I look over the Reactor to see it still standing even after all of the missiles hit I grit my teeth and speak "Again!"
For another 30 seconds, I continued this assault, expending all available ammunition. Yet, the Reactor remained standing.
The durability on the outer part of the Reactor was pretty damn hard, my screen says it was [Hit], so my gamble was right. The Reactor can be Destroyed.
But it's still standing with nothing but a crack Reactor.
Missle was also only 5 left and Unguided Bomb Is empty before I know it.
What to do... What to Do... Is it truly impossible to dismantle the Reactor without the mission's authorization? Or am I doing it wrong?
Just like any ace Combat Mission, if you don't have permission to destroy. It will stay indestructible like a Bedrock.
I thought it was over until I noticed the crack from the leftover missile and machine gun I just used. Seeing this sign that I could destroy it, I flipped the aircraft, heading straight for the crack. With all the ammo I had left, I focused my aim and fired relentlessly at the reactor's crack. Suddenly, a blinding light burst forth, followed by a colossal explosion deep within the reactor.
I covered my eyes for a few seconds before the light suddenly went down and A huge explosion happened to the Reactor.
Seeing that I had destroyed the Reactor, I thought I could finally have some rest after the long period of battle.
But the increase in the explosive of the reactor was getting larger and larger It brought me dread even though I made the distance from it. So I immediately left the hole I just entered as fast as possible. As soon as I went up to the skies, I heard the distant sound of an explosion closing on me and glanced back to see a blue flame coming at me rapidly which forced me to activate the afterburner.
Even as I distanced myself, the [Damaged] count surged: 95...97...99... I pleaded for relief until I finally emerged into the gray expanse of the skies.
Glancing back, I witnessed the explosion's towering plume, a blue-hued mushroom cloud reaching toward the heavens.
[Mission Accomplished]
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