Like A Hurricane

 

The J006 Fortress Area, located to the east of the Pyrochlore Continent. It was technically part of the archipelago that extended from the mainland, commonly referred to as the Neos Anatolicon Archipelago.

Once, it had served as the headquarters of Misumaru Heavy Industries. While its central functions had since been relocated to the Scheelite Continent, its operational capacity remained undiminished.

From beneath the sea within the Fortress Area, the Astraea surfaced.

「Astraea ascending. Preparing the Edge Swift squadron for launch.」

The voice of Astraea echoed through the vessel, prompting a sudden surge of activity among the crew—primarily composed of Familias and Therianthropes.

「Everyone, fight for our share too!」

「Got it! We’ll be back soon. Leave Yasuyuki-san to us!」

「Ahaha!」

Layla, the bunny-eared girl entrusted with the Astraea, rallied the Familias boarding the Edge Swifts.

A mustachioed penguin-type Familia flapped his wings in a salute.

「Will this ship and the Aubade Force-affiliated vessels be launching as well?」

It was a Nereid of the Lanius squad who asked the question—clearly frustrated that she wouldn’t get to deploy.

「That would escalate things into full-scale war with the Argo Army. If we deploy capital ships, the Argonautai will move. That might turn the Pyrochlore Continent into a warfront.」

「Understood. It is not yet the time for that.」

She nodded solemnly. Indeed, they weren’t ready for an all-out conflict with the Argo Army. The same likely held true for the Stones. The stand-off had bred a frigid tension—a cold war.

「Edge Swift Squadron, prepare for launch!」

With the hawk-type Familia’s command, the swallow-type, chicken-type, and penguin-type Familias boarded their aircraft with enthusiastic chirps and squawks.

While that unfolded above the waves, preparations were also underway on land.

「Didn’t expect to run into the Argo Army here. Pleiades Team, get ready for deployment.」

Despite his massive frame, Kurose swiftly completed his preflight preparations and strode to the hangar with practiced ease.

Because Kou’s team was heading for the Pyrochlore Continent, the Pleiades Team had remained on standby at the J006 Fortress.

「Let’s go, Yasuyuki.」

Haino, the pilot of the Akors, joined him.

Together, Kurose and Haino boarded the Akors that was already loaded with the Aramasa and the Analyze Armor transformation system. Once the two units combined, the Dragon Slayer would be formed.

They were the flagship units of Misumaru Heavy Industries.

The rest of the Pleiades Team boarded their trusty Yoanias, while the Familias prepared their Aeros.

「Times like this call for long-range strike craft.」

「Carrier-based units can’t be deployed so far from their base.」

At the J034 Fortress Area, also part of the Neos Anatolicon Archipelago, fighters gathered on the runways. This Fortress Area belonged to Gogyou Heavy Industries—another company belonging to the Aubade Force.

The units assembled there were Type-4 heavy fighters from Gogyou’s Ten Colors project.

「We expect no large-scale interference in this disputed zone. Coordinate with the Type-4 units. Let’s show the Argo Army the door.」

「Roger!」

In response to Kou’s call for aid, the Pleiades Team surged skyward.

◆　　◆　　◆　　◆　　◆

A silhouette with grotesque weapon arms.

Its burst fire was so intense, even a Bear could be shredded in moments.

「What do we even—」

「Fran. Can you hear me?」

「Kou? I thought you’d pulled out.」

「Forgot something. I’m going to punch the Argo Army in the face.」

「What are you doing?!」

Even Fran knew—no matter how strong the Eustitia was, it wouldn’t survive a focused barrage unscathed.

「That’s not the point. Listen up, Fran. The attackers are Aberration Silhouettes. They’re not standard Silhouettes.」

「Aberration…?」

「Yeah. Weapon-arm types, optimized for burst damage. In exchange, their pilots are pumped full of drugs. They’re practically in a trance. Slow reaction times.」

「They’re fielding those things?!」

「Exactly. We’re short on time. Fortunately, their numbers are low. I hate to say it, but the only one that can handle them… is your Unit 6.」

「That’s what I wanted to hear.」

「That’s the spirit. One last thing—keep low and never stop moving. Got it?」

「Yes!」

Unit 6 ducked behind cover.

「Everyone, pull back. I’ll take care of the weapon-arm. No—I have to.」

「What?! Fran, who told you that?!」

Nate, having caught the transmission, immediately demanded an answer.

「Kou did. He trusted me. Me and Unit 6. So I’ll trust him.」

「That guy?!」

「He says he’ll hold the Argo Army off—with just that ship.」

「…What is even happening?」

「I wish I knew. Anyway, later, Nate. Oh, and don’t worry—I’m not planning to die today. I’ve been given a hell of a hint.」

「Fine. If you’re going to do something crazy, just don’t die.」

「Roger that!」

She couldn’t help but smile—something that welled up from deep within.

「Slow reaction time, huh? That makes things clear. With the new Unit 6—!」

She’d trained for this kind of acceleration.

Even got yelled at for it.

But she’d fallen in love with the speed. Now she understood why the Unit 5 pilot had been obsessed with it.

「Let’s go, Unit 6. Time to open up the throttle!」

Unit 6 crouched, deactivating its roller-dash system.

It launched from cover—and landed already in motion.

Sparks trailing behind, it blazed forward like a bolt of lightning.

The boom came after. It had crossed several kilometers in the blink of an eye.

The Aberration Silhouette had already been cleaved in two—bisected clean through the torso.

「…」

She grit her teeth, trying to control the incredible acceleration.

「Don’t resist it. Ride the inertia. Keep moving!」

Kou’s voice came through the comms—almost as if he were watching her.

「Got it!」

She dropped her center of gravity, using ground friction to decelerate.

「Above!」

「…!」

She kicked off toward the sky. The shelter’s inner wall came into view. Using it as a ramp, she fired her thrusters for a boost.

「Looks like you’ve got it covered.」

「Where are you?!」

「Above you.」

Unit 6, once again hidden, looked up.

Unit 5, thrusters blazing, hovered overhead—keeping watch.

「That’s… TSW-R1C Assault Flight Model…」

She whispered, stunned.

The Assault Flight Model—TAKABA Corporation’s masterpiece from the Asia War.

「Fran. I’ll keep this brief.」

Kou’s voice.

Fran was certain now—this was the same legendary Lanius pilot who’d ended the Asia War.

And the pilot of Unit 5—a first-generation Lanius, just like her.

「Yes!」

「Forge your own path—with Unit 6. It’ll answer you. Don’t try to copy Unit 5.」

「Understood!」

With that, Unit 5 vanished from sight.

「Thank you. —Now let’s go. One more target!」

She sprinted up a building and dove, sword-first, like a sniper.

The Aberration Arms couldn’t follow her movements at all.

「They’re half-asleep, after all. To Unit 6, they’re just sitting ducks!」

Their delayed reactions were Kou’s clue. Nothing could match Unit 6’s transonic momentum.

She curved wide, then wheeled back around.

Heavy gunfire came after she’d passed. The floor—reinforced by the A-Carbuncle—shrugged off the impacts.

「Hah!」

Like a hurricane, Unit 6 pounced on the Aberration like a wild beast.

With a silent roar, it slipped through the barrage and closed the gap in an instant.

At close range, weapon arms meant nothing. One slash brought its arms down, and a follow-up strike took down the enemy’s reactor.

Inside the MCS, warnings blared.

Fuel—specifically Slash Hydrogen—was nearly depleted.

「So that’s the drawback…」

But elsewhere, the Bears of the Defense Force were being hit.

If nothing changed, they’d be wiped out before they could retreat.

「I can’t win this alone. I have to support the others.」

She had gained perspective. She could now see the battlefield as a whole.

Which made her own failure cut all the deeper.

「How many have died already…?」

The thrill of Unit 6’s performance chilled into guilt.

She’d made the wrong call. If she had prioritized her enemies better, she could have protected her allies.

「My mistake… But just one more time—」

She had let someone die whom she could have saved.

Driven by regret, she pushed herself once more.

Unit 6 crouched again, just about to move—

When a shock hit the frame, and the ground fell away beneath her.