◈ 570. [STAGE 35] Dogfight (2)
“To prepare for a sortie right away?”
Cross Road’s non-empty dock.
Kelly Bay asked me with a puzzled face.
“Are you serious? Gold and silver have yet to take a long way. I mean, it’s the flight of a newborn baby who has only done demonstration flights a few times!”
Gold and Silver are the names of Geronimo’s two frigates. It is a new ship that has not yet undergone a launching ceremony.
‘… Since it’s a non-empty ship that flies in the sky, should I say it’s a vacuum type, not a launch type?’
In any case, these two ships, which were hastily built by combining the technology of the Dwarves and the architectural magic of the Lake Kingdom, are not yet equipped with weapons.
That’s why I came to ask you to load weapons first.
“The worst flying monster ever is coming, Kelly Bay.”
I hurriedly exhaled.
“Since twelve non-airships have arrived, we must bring out all the non-airships that have Crossroads as well.”
“but!”
“Anyway, there were no accidents during the demonstration flight, right? Or what could a ship built by the dwarves suddenly reveal defects that weren’t there before?”
“How could that be? Inum! Our ship is perfect!”
Go! Kelly Bay made a noise and shook her head stubbornly.
“However, it is the ship’s duty to pursue safety for safety.”
“Kelly Bay… .”
“A non-empty ship is completely different from a normal ship. The boat rises thanks to the support of the waves.
The ship can float because the buoyancy borrowed from the sea fights the gravity that tries to sink the ship instead.”
Kelly Bay thumped the hull right next to her with her hands and uttered a voluptuous speech.
“But what about emptiness? It is only through the artificial lift of mechanical devices that it can fly against gravity.”
“… .”
“And this mechanical device sounds ridiculous to me as a mechanic, but how thin and flimsy it is compared to the buoyancy of the sea or the gravity of the earth. That’s why we have to be extra careful.”
Kelly Bay stubbornly shook her head.
“We can’t get this ship out of here until it’s fully tested. cancer! I can’t allow it!”
“Kelly Bay… .”
I calmly persuaded Kelly Bay.
“If the ship doesn’t launch right away, we might not even be able to proceed with that test.”
“… .”
“The front line here has never been without a crisis, but this time it means that the crossroads may collapse. What good is it if the boat floats safely after everyone is dead?”
The safety problem of not knowing whether or not an escort ship will occur and the threat of a monster in front of you.
Needless to say which one is more significant.
Kelly Bay kept her mouth shut. I kept pouring out.
“It’s okay if you don’t have to fly dangerously. It’s enough to stay behind and keep the fleet in formation. It’s good to see that as a flight test, right? Now we need at least one more boat.”
“… .”
“Kelly Bay. I don’t want to make this battle the last battle in the world. Please help me sortie.”
Kelly Bay sighed heavily and ran her hands over her face a few times before reluctantly agreeing.
“good. Instead, I will board Gold myself. And in silver… … .”
“I can ride, father.”
Turning around, the crowned Dwarf – Dwarf King Kellison approached with his men. Kelly Bay looked at her son and sounded embarrassed.
“Kellison… .”
“Because I was the one responsible for building these two ships in the first place. More than anything, even if we don’t make a fuss, our technology is perfect. Don’t worry, you’ll be safe.”
Unlike his bald father, who had blonde hair, Kellison grinned at me.
“I will mount the weapon, Your Highness the Prince. Give me 30 minutes. All you have to do is attach the module, so it will be over soon.”
“Thank you, Kellyson.”
The dwarfs rushed into the airspace. I apologized to Kelly Bay.
“Sorry for asking too much, Kelly Bay.”
“No, no. The monster is coming, but it’s not the time to relax… … .”
Kelly Bay stared blankly at her son. Kellison had picked up the turret module himself, moved it, and attached it to the airship.
“… I’m going to touch on a few more things one last time.”
With that said, Kelly Bay ran to Kellison’s side.
I turned around after watching the father and son silently collaborate with each other to repair the empty space.
A look of uneasiness was evident on the faces of all the dock workers.
Now, the spirit of war was sweeping over the Crossroads’ main castle.
***
All 16 airships are fully fueled and repair work is complete.
The captains gathered in one place while the crew climbed into the ship.
“I think there will be a need to unify the chain of command prior to the sortie.”
said MacMillan, captain of the Imperial Airborne Corps, smoking a pipe.
“We’ve never trained together and we’re just getting together. We need a clearer chain of command.”
Then, Kelly Bay, who had been standing there with a puzzled expression, suddenly stepped forward.
“I am the captain of the Airship Fleet!”
There was a reason why he suddenly did that.
“My pride won’t allow Geronimo to go under Alcatraz!”
“Kelly Bay.”
MacMillan smiled. His chin parted on either side stood out and a gruff smile formed, but his voice was serious.
“There was a message left by His Majesty, the Emperor of our Everblack Empire. Respect and willingly follow the World Defense Front.”
“… huh?”
“I heard that Kelly Bey-sama has deep insight into the construction of a flying ship, and also knows how to operate a flying ship herself.”
As if it was surprising that MacMillan appeared docile, Kelly Bay narrowed her eyes. MacMillan responded gently without losing his manners.
“You must also have a lot of experience in commanding the fleet. If you wish, I will gladly follow your command.”
“… .”
“Because this is the World Defense Front, and the airship commander here is Miss Kelly Bey.”
Everyone saw Kelly Bay.
Kelly Bay didn’t know what to do, then said,
“Sheesh, I didn’t expect such a reaction… … .”
He grumbled and brushed his beard, raising both hands.
“… I’ve never done anything like commanding an entire fleet. I am just a blacksmith and a pilot.”
Kelly Bay glanced at MacMillan.
“As for commanding the fleet, you seem to be the expert. If you know how to handle seven, you can handle sixteen. Sir Macmillan, please take command.”
“If others agree, I will lead, though not enough.”
Everyone silently agreed.
Everblack was the only place to operate seven non-empty ships as a fleet in the modern era where the very existence of non-empty ships is disappearing. It would be most efficient for Macmillan to take command.
I murmured softly to MacMillan, who behaved gently and took the baton naturally.
“For an Imperial soldier, he’s flexible.”
“haha. I’ve seen things like that, but I need to create flexibility that I didn’t have.”
MacMillan stared at the southern sky, his lips quivering, then he looked at me again. And gave a neat salute.
“… As of this time, the United Air Fleet, including Alcatraz, will belong to the World Defense Front, until the monster’s invasion is completely over.”
MacMillan, commander of the airship fleet of the World Defense Front, gave me a wink.
“Give me an order, Your Highness.”
“Exactly as you ordered, Sir Macmillan. Delay his advance. Take your time and gather information about them. and.”
Macmillan was briefed separately on the enemy, as well as all the rules of conduct. Macmillan also knew it.
Still, I gave more strength to my next words.
“True life above all else. If the war situation becomes unfavorable, retreat without delay.”
“I take orders.”
MacMillan, who bowed down politely, turned around and shouted.
“Okay then let’s sortie-!”
The captains climbed into their ships and soon, with a roar, the non-empty ships soared into the air one by one.
The airships flew up against gravity, emitting magical light of different colors, and eventually formed formations and launched into the southern sky.
“… .”
Looking at it, I turned around.
I have to find out while the airships drag on the time.
strategy to defeat the enemy.
***
The Airborne Fleet of the World Defense Front moved south in a single formation.
In the center are seven non-airships of the Everblack Empire.
On the left wing, five allied airships. On the right wing were four non-airships belonging to the Crossroads.
There was no time for joint training, so the fleet of 16 ships briefly worked together while flying south.
Build formations, direct firepower, or… .
Even though it was the first time to match breathing, everyone was able to move together quickly without difficulty.
Not to mention the seven ships of Everblack, the crews of the remaining ships are also elites selected from different countries.
In the way of those who fight in the sky, Ace.
His sense of dealing with emptiness was sufficient and overflowing. Basic coordinated movements were also not too difficult.
After going south for a few hours, the sight of a huge monster approaching from afar began to come into view of the fleet.
boo oo oh… … .
A muffled cry broke the clouds and rang the sky.
The blood drained from the faces of the captains and crew members aboard each non-empty ship. Kelly Bay, who was driving the frigate Gold herself, also broke into a cold sweat.
Can something like that exist in this world?
The center of the red sky at sunset. With a halo floating above her head and infinity-shaped wings spread behind her back… … The huge fly was peacefully moving north.
Hundreds of bridges were gathered calmly unlike before. It was as if he were doing zazen with his palms together.
Even the unknown piety was felt in the monster’s neat appearance.
Everyone was frozen, but the communication came in. It was from Alcatraz.
“ladies and gentlemen. Good afternoon. This is Fleet Commander MacMillan.”
MacMillan’s voice was as relaxed as usual, but it was muffled and trembling.
“I have never fought a monster before. To be more honest, I have never fought properly against humans.”
Everyone listened to the unexpected story.
「I only applied for the airship maintenance team because my dream was to fly, so I am an insignificant officer who was in charge of maintenance of the Everblack airships.」 “
… .”
“I’m an idiot who happened to be entrusted with such an important position by a twist of fate… Still, I have a knack for fleet tactics that His Majesty the Emperor will approve of. And above all, I know this.”
McMillan’s next words tightened Kelly Bay’s grip on the control handle.
“We are soldiers. And soldiers exist to protect the people.”
The monster and the fleet got closer at once.
At the same time, the legs of the Lord of the Flies, which had been as still as a stone statue, began to move slowly.
“If that monster crosses the Crossroads and heads north, countless innocent people around the world will die. Even I, an outsider, can understand that much,”
said Macmillan with force.
“Let’s stop him here. Line up the fleet!」
Profit-!
Chiyiik-!
The non-empty ships all at once slowed down and stopped in place. At the same time, the non-empty ships turned 90 degrees in the air and headed toward the Lord of the Flies on their starboard side.
「Prepare the guns!」
Clap clap clap!
The sides of the sixteen non-airships simultaneously opened their armor and opened their hatches, opening fire.
This in itself was spectacular. The captains all felt a shudder run through their backs.
I felt confident that I would never lose, no matter how great my opponent was.
「Feather One Feather Two! Ready to shoot!」
「Kite one kite two! Ready to fire!”
“Awaiting Aryan Bear orders!”
“Geronimo anytime!”
Eventually, all ships reported that they were ready to fire.
“Alcatraz is ready to fire.”
McMillan, who had said the last thing, opened his mouth again via communication.
“A little while ago, you told me the tactics to deal with that monster… There is a word from His Highness, Prince Ash.」 The
Lord of the Flies’ grotesquely long and thick legs untied their palms and slowly pushed forward.
Watching the scene, MacMillan said calmly.
“This battle will go down in history.”
The largest non-aircraft fleet unprecedented in modern times.
And as expected, the largest flying monster without precedent.
“Let’s write a legend that will go down in history.”
Right after that, MacMillan shouted in an extremely serious voice.
[Battleship firing begins!]
Boom! … !
Sixteen non-airships began firing at once.
And to those emptiness-
!
Countless numbers of flies poured out of the Lord of the Flies’ ship poured down, filling the sky with pitch black.
