Bab 30: War Greets the Horizon
The night had settled deep over the desert, but the base was alive with activity. Every corner was buzzing with preparations—pilots running drills, mechanics servicing aircraft, and the newly installed anti-air batteries being calibrated for action. We had struck a blow against Zaitsev, but it had only bought us time. His retaliation was coming, and we needed to be ready.
In the command center, the screens flickered with tactical updates. The upgrades to our radar were paying off, giving us an early warning of any approaching threats. But there was no sign of Zaitsev's drones yet—just the quiet, tense calm that comes before everything breaks loose.
I stood with Rook, watching the data stream in as we waited for Levi's confirmation on the Belkan alliance. The decision to reach out to the Belkan Remnant Forces hadn't been easy, but it was necessary. Zaitsev's empire was growing too fast for us to handle alone.
The door to the command center slid open, and Levi walked in, his expression grim but determined. "It's done," he said without preamble. "The Belkans are in. They'll send a team to rendezvous with us at first light."
I nodded, feeling the weight of the decision settle over me. "Any strings attached?"
"Just one," Levi replied. "They want to maintain autonomy. They'll fight with us, but they won't take orders. They're not here to play nice—they're here to win."
Rook glanced at me, her eyes narrowing slightly. "That could get messy."
"It's a risk we have to take," I said, turning to the screen that showed the broader strategic map. "Zaitsev's forces are pushing in from multiple fronts. We'll need the Belkans to hit him where we can't."
New Objective: Coordinate with Belkan Remnant Forces
Objective: Plan joint operations with the Belkan Remnant to disrupt Zaitsev's advances.
Reward: XP: 25,000, Elite Pilots Added to Squadron
Failure Penalty: Loss of Allied Support
As we discussed strategy, the radar suddenly lit up—pings that hadn't been there a moment before. The system flashed an alert, and I felt a chill crawl down my spine.
"Hostiles inbound," Rook muttered, her voice tense. "Looks like Zaitsev's done waiting."
I turned to the radar, watching as a wave of enemy drones appeared on the screen, moving toward our base at high speed. These weren't standard drones. The readouts showed them as heavily armed, fast, and highly maneuverable—Zaitsev's newest creations.
"He's coming in full force," Levi said, his eyes narrowing. "This is just the beginning."
New Threat: Zaitsev's Drone Swarm
Objective: Defend the base from Zaitsev's incoming drone assault.
Threat Level: Extreme
Reward: XP: 20,000, Base Defense Success
Failure Penalty: Base Damage and Squadron Casualties
I hit the comms, my voice steady despite the tension building in my chest. "All units, scramble. We've got incoming. This is not a drill."
The base erupted into action as the squadron moved to their jets, ground crew rushing to arm the F-22, F-35, and the other aircraft in the hangar. The anti-air batteries powered up, their targeting systems locking onto the approaching drones.
I ran out to the tarmac, the wind whipping through the night air as I climbed into the cockpit of the F-22. The engines roared to life, and within seconds, I was airborne, the squadron forming up behind me.
"Viper, Echo, Blaze, Raven—you know the drill," I said over the comms. "Take out those drones before they get close to the base. Rook and I will lead the charge."
Viper's voice crackled through, calm and collected. "Copy that. We'll take the right flank."
As we climbed higher into the sky, the first wave of drones appeared on the horizon, their sleek forms glinting in the moonlight. They moved in eerie synchronization, adapting to our movements with unsettling precision. These weren't just machines—they were extensions of Zaitsev's will, designed to overwhelm and destroy.
"We've got about a hundred incoming," Rook said, her voice sharp with focus. "We need to break their formation."
New Skill Unlocked: Aerial Tactician
Aerial Tactician enhances squadron-wide coordination in large-scale battles, increasing effectiveness against overwhelming forces.
Cooldown: 7 minutes.
The system's new skill activated, sharpening my focus and giving me an edge in managing the squadron's movements. I issued quick commands, directing Viper and Echo to engage the flanking drones while Blaze and Raven provided cover from above.
Skill Activated: Aerial Tactician
Squadron performance improved. Coordination in large-scale battle enhanced.
The sky lit up as the battle began in earnest, missiles streaking through the night as the drones closed in. Viper dove straight into the fray, his jet weaving through the swarm as he picked off targets with deadly accuracy. Echo followed suit, using her stealth capabilities to take out key drones without drawing too much attention.
Blaze, though still relatively inexperienced, flew with surprising skill, keeping the enemy at bay while Raven's surgical strikes cut through the swarm like a blade. The drones, despite their numbers, were struggling to adapt to our coordinated assault.
"Keep it tight," I called out, dodging a barrage of missiles as I locked onto a cluster of drones. "We need to hold them off until the Belkans arrive."
The base's anti-air batteries roared to life below, their tracers lighting up the sky as they targeted the drones that managed to slip through our defense. The radar was a mess of red blips, but we were holding the line.
Suddenly, the comms crackled with a new voice—gravelly, with an unmistakable Belkan accent. "This is Phantom Leader. We're on approach. Don't get in our way."
I exhaled in relief as the Belkan Remnant Forces arrived. Their jets streaked into the fray, moving with a precision that only elite pilots could manage. Phantom Leader's voice cut through the chaos as his squadron tore into the drones with ruthless efficiency.
"Looks like our friends showed up," Rook said, her tone slightly amused.
"Better late than never," I muttered, focusing on the next wave of drones. "Let's finish this."
New Objective: Defend the Base with Belkan Support
Objective: Work with the Belkan Remnant to repel Zaitsev's assault.
Reward: XP: 30,000, Strengthened Allied Relations
Failure Penalty: Base Damage and Allied Losses
The tide of the battle shifted as the Belkans joined the fight, their elite pilots cutting through the drones like a knife through butter. Their aircraft were older, but their skill was undeniable, and their presence gave us the boost we needed to turn the battle in our favor.
Phantom Leader's voice came over the comms again, this time with a note of approval. "You Oseans aren't bad, but you've still got a lot to learn."
I couldn't help but smirk as I pulled into a tight roll, dodging another missile and taking out the last drone in my sector. "We'll keep that in mind."
Within minutes, the sky began to clear. The last of Zaitsev's drones exploded in a shower of debris, and the radar finally blinked free of enemy contacts. We had done it. The base was safe—for now.
Objective Complete: Base Defended
Reward: XP: 20,000, Base Defense Successful
Objective Complete: Defend the Base with Belkan Support
Reward: XP: 30,000, Strengthened Allied Relations
As we touched down back at the base, the sense of victory was palpable, but it was tempered by the knowledge that this was just the beginning. Zaitsev had tested our defenses, but the next time, he wouldn't hold back. And with the Belkans now in the mix, the stakes had only gotten higher.
Raven dismounted from her jet, her expression unreadable. "Not bad. But Zaitsev's got more where that came from."
"We know," I replied, feeling the weight of the coming war settle over me. "And we'll be ready."
Phantom Leader approached, his face hard but not unfriendly. "You fought well today. The Belkan Remnant will continue to support you, but remember—we're not here for your cause. We're here to win."
I met his gaze evenly. "As long as we're fighting the same enemy, that's all that matters."
He nodded once, then turned back to his squadron, leaving us to prepare for what was coming next.
New Objective: Plan the Next Strike Against Zaitsev
Objective: Use intel and allied support to plan a counterattack against Zaitsev's growing empire.
Reward: XP: 35,000, ???
Failure Penalty: Zaitsev's Control Grows Stronger
As the base settled into a cautious calm, I knew that the real war was just beginning. We had the Belkans on our side, but Zaitsev's empire was growing by the day, and his drones were only the tip of the iceberg. The next fight would be bigger, more dangerous, and we couldn't afford any mistakes.
But for now, we had a chance. And that was enough.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone