Ch.248The Black Coast of Yenisei. Lorelei Federation (4)

Two days later. A final report came in from our liaison.

[The enemy plans to deploy 200 airships and approximately 600 tactical aircraft to this theater. The target is, needless to say, the Sky Warden.]

“…A difficult battle ahead. Is there any support besides ground anti-aircraft fire?”

[Of course. Our nation’s airships and tactical squadrons will support Your Lordship’s forces. Even so, whether on ground or in air, the Sun’s forces will ultimately be the main strength.]

“I see… How many?”

[60 airships and 150 tactical aircraft. I know it’s woefully insufficient… but full-scale battles have broken out on the eastern front, leaving no reserves. Even if we had more aircraft, we lack pilots… I apologize.]

“No need for apologies. That’s why we came to this land. Anyway, is that the entirety of the enemy’s air force?”

[I can’t be certain, but most likely. With three nations combined, they could muster about that much strength. Even if this isn’t everything, we can certainly deal a severe blow to the enemy’s air power.]

“And with this level of force, we can maintain air superiority on the eastern front, can’t we?”

[You’re perceptive…]

“Well, an apostle of the Sun should be able to read this much.”

Though war may be Karil’s domain, everything that happens in this mortal world exists under the Sun.

Power, happiness, knowledge, prosperity—all virtues that ultimately descend into madness in darkness.

[Luminator. This won’t be an easy fight. You might lose your vessel.]

“I’m not concerned about that. We made a contract, and we’ll fulfill the covenant made under the Sun until the conditions are met.”

When I said this, the liaison’s face brightened somewhat.

I knew all too well the feeling of standing alone against many.

[Then I wish you good fortune, Luminator.]

“Praise the Sun. May we all walk under His sky…”

*

Five hours later.

Just as the Sun was setting and Maria, His companion, was rising to take her place as mistress of the sky… the Sky Warden’s sensors reported the approach of enemies.

“Detection report! Enemies approaching from the front! Approximately 500 craft! Numbers still increasing!”

At the soldier’s urgent report, the Sky Warden supplied power to its main systems and positioned personnel at their stations to prepare for battle.

“Fear not the Sun’s absence! Husband and wife are one body! Maria’s light is also our ally!”

“Long live the Sun!”

“We have come to punish the invaders and judge those with evil intentions! Fear not death, my soldiers! Fight! Under the moon’s radiance! Under Maria’s grace! We are the Sun’s soldiers! We are the blades that purify the world!”

“Long live Lord Victor!!!”

With fanatical responses, the ship’s cannons aimed forward.

Soon the guns fired toward the enemy formations appearing on the sensors, and in the distance, flashes of light and burning aircraft plummeting to the ground became visible.

“Inform the ground forces that enemy air forces are approaching!”

“Yes, my lord!”

While alerting the ground forces of the enemy’s approach, the guns fired once more, and the Sky Warden’s frontal armor took a heavy hit from enemy missile attacks that had suddenly arrived.

With hundreds of missiles striking simultaneously, a tremendous shock rocked the airship, causing several crew members to lose balance and fall.

“Don’t panic! The armor is still holding! All turrets commence free firing from this moment! Be careful of friendly fire! Activate the CLWS! Use tracer rounds to show the ground forces the enemy positions!”

“Yes!”

As I caught my wife who was about to fall, Simon struck the floor with his staff and issued orders to the soldiers.

He then chanted a spell and tilted his staff forward, causing numerous glowing characters to envelop the damaged frontal armor and begin repairs.

“The servant of wisdom stands with you! Fight! That is your calling!”

At his thunderous voice that belied his age, the soldiers regained their composure and began transmitting orders to each department.

Soon, the CLWS began pouring flames at the enemy tactical squadrons that had drawn close enough to be visible to the naked eye, and with each brilliant trajectory of tracer rounds, enemy attack aircraft that failed to evade came crashing down.

Bang! Boom!

The turrets began firing flares to illuminate the dark sky, and only then could Lorelai’s anti-aircraft batteries on the ground begin to fire as they could finally locate their targets.

“Enemy airship squadron approaching! Main guns, fire!”

Boom! Boom!

“Urgh!”

While intercepting the attack aircraft swarming around us like hornets, the enemy airship fleet finally appeared and immediately began fierce bombardment against us.

“Turrets 1 and 2 damaged! Inoperable!”

“My lord! Enemy ground forces have appeared and begun their attack! Our ground armored units are currently engaged!”

“Send repair teams to the damaged turrets! Which units are engaged on the ground?”

“All of them! It appears they’re launching a full-frontal assault!”

“Tell the lower turrets to fire napalm shells to create a containment line! Upper turrets designate enemy airships as priority targets! Leave fighter interception to the CLWS!”

“Yes!”

The bridge had become complete chaos.

Cracks were gradually forming on the observation window, and officers and non-commissioned officers were shouting at the top of their lungs.

“Berkman! Hawkman! Join the repair team! That’s all we can do right now!”

“Got it, Captain!”

“Let’s go, brother! Grab the tools!”

I sent the Berkman and Hawkman brothers to the repair crew, then looked at Simon.

“Simon, keep casting repair spells. The repair teams can handle the guns and CLWS, so focus on the broken armor!”

“Understood, boss!”

“And you estrogen bundles, get to the captain’s quarters! You’re no help here!”

“…Fine.”

Lucia made a displeased face but followed my orders without argument.

My wife gave me a final kiss before following the elves into the captain’s quarters.

*

“My lord! Allied airships and fighters are coming!”

“Excellent! That’s a relief…!”

Four hours had passed since the battle began.

We were still surrounded and engaged in a furious exchange of fire, and the crew were downing stamina potions they had stashed away in preparation for a prolonged battle.

“Division commander!”

“Yes, my lord!”

“Deploy the reserves for rotation, and let the soldiers who’ve been fighting eat combat rations and then get some sleep!”

“What?! B-but they just drank stamina potions!”

“That’s why they can sleep less! The potions boost existing energy, not create new energy! If they don’t rest at all, their bodies won’t hold up! Do as I say!”

“…Understood! Current combat personnel, rotate with reserves! Mess officers, prepare to distribute combat rations!”

“Relay the orders! Relay the orders!”

The advantage of an airship is that even while under constant attack, it can still provide minimal living conditions.

Much like how long-range bombers are equipped with facilities like toilets.

And for soldiers who had been engaged in intense combat for four hours without even properly drinking water, access to such facilities could significantly impact their combat effectiveness.

Even the fittest soldier would benefit from taking brief breaks during a day-long battle to eat, use the restroom, wash up, change clothes, and get even just 1-2 hours of sleep to recover some strength.

Moreover, the calories soldiers burn in extreme situations are beyond imagination. Even I was feeling thirsty despite gulping down water from my canteen…

“My lord. The rotation with the reserves is complete, and meals are currently being distributed.”

“Well done. What’s the enemy’s status?”

“Nearly half of their tactical aircraft have been shot down, but… the Sky Warden has sustained serious damage. There are too many enemies for our repair teams to keep up with the rate of damage… We’ve already lost nearly 100 CLWS turrets.”

“…How are the ground forces?”

“They’re holding up well so far, but we’ve received word that they’ll soon run out of ammunition. The second drop force is ready, but in this state, dropping them would be…”

“Damn it… When did they say our allies would arrive?”

“We just need to hold out for one more hour.”

“Good… Then we’ll time the second drop force’s deployment for that moment. Understood?”

“Yes!”

I gazed at the moonlight that had risen.

The barrage of countless shells obscuring the moon, the noise of supersonic fighter jets, and the seemingly endless bombardment from airships…

Only four hours of battle and we’re this depleted… I held my head in my hands as I anxiously awaited Lorelai’s reinforcements coming to our aid.