Contact In The Sky

The place that could be said to be the central region, a nation not yet known to the world, could not help but be in a continuous state of tension.

Of course, it was not tension from fear, but rather a sense of tension about the new future that was approaching. It was inside a fairly large conference hall. In this place, which had a scale no less than the conference halls of any nation, several dozen people were seated.

Among them, one person gained the right to speak, stood up from his seat, and began to speak.

“According to our current external informants, it is said that through leaked photographs and evidentiary materials from a place called the Polia Kingdom, the existence of our country has been widely made known.”

“At this rate, our existence will be completely revealed to the world outside.”

“Given the nature of those nations, it is certain they will attempt to make us a colony.”

“Hmph! What is there to fear from them? We can repel any attack whatsoever.”

“Do not be so certain. Was it not because we thought there would be no external intrusion that we ended up being struck like this this time?”

At someone’s words, everyone agreed. The strong winds at the mountain range entrance, which they had believed were absolute and would never be breached, had been breached by a single airplane. The price of complacency was that their existence had been made known to the outside world. Recalling that fact, their hearts could not help but feel heavy.

“What matters is stopping their intrusion, is it not? As you know, the existence of the tunnel that uniquely pierces the mountain range has been hidden until now. But if they set their minds to searching, the possibility of it being discovered is extremely high.”

“Even so. They will not be able to invade us. Even if there is only one tunnel, the moment we block that place, they will not be able to take a single step inside.”

“That is right. If we block the tunnel, how would they enter?”

“Even so, from now on we must prepare to face the world. Whether we knew or not, now that we have been revealed, in the end we will have no choice but to face one another.”

“Then how about we try dialogue first?”

“Dialogue? Will we truly be able to communicate with them? If there is anything we have learned until now, it is that they are a tribe that thinks those weaker than themselves must be invaded, ruled, and made into colonies.”

“Even now, even if the colonies on this continent demand independence, they are being suppressed in the end, are they not. In particular, I hear it is the Polia Kingdom that suppresses them. The fact they found out about us as well—this is a nation we must be wary of!”

“They are probably not an opponent with whom dialogue will work. So through conscription, let us first expand our soldiers. In the end, they will invade this place.”

“That’s right. This is a country we all share, and that we all grew and raised together. We cannot let it be taken by them, so let us prepare for war.”

“That’s right. Just as they caused a world-scale war, we too must quickly declare full mobilization, run all the factories, and mass-produce guns and other weapons, tanks, and even fighter aircraft!”

Many strongly wanted to arm themselves. In this atmosphere, the heat in the conference hall could not help but be intense. To them, this nation was a place that must never be taken or invaded by anyone.

Since their ancestors had settled here and built this place with blood, sweat, and toil, their resolve to protect it could not help but be strong.

“For now, full mobilization seems too much, so let us strengthen the army and increase the production volume of tanks and fighter aircraft.”

“Thinking realistically, that seems right. We still have time.”

“And we also need to strengthen the surveillance network of the skies. There will be attempts to cross again.”

These were statements that were a bit less hardline than earlier. Those statements seemed to land to some degree. Everyone had become excited, but they knew they could not ignore reality.

While they were taking a stance to prepare for what was to come in the heart of this nation whose name had not even been revealed to the world, troops that had moved by train were arriving around the mountain range.

Since, from long ago, railways had been connected in many places in order to extract resources of all kinds to dominate colonies, they had been able to move quickly. And what they were doing was searching through the mountain range everywhere. In truth, such work could not help but continue for quite a long time.

August 14.

It was approaching about two months since everyone jointly began attempting to find the new nation. Many troops were moving around and searching, but they still had not found a clue about the entrance. However, amid this, there was a place where a new challenge was about to begin.

Purrung- bung-!

As many as twelve airplanes were starting their engines, letting out a loud engine roar. All of the airplanes here had been prepared by the Magnia Empire, and they could be said to be reinforced airplanes made through special modifications.

Since not only the airframes but even the engine parts had all been greatly reinforced, the emotions of the pilots controlling them were overflowing with confidence. Moreover, all of those piloting them could be said to be veterans who had gained experience in the last Great War. These airframes even had machine guns mounted.

Two people were aboard each airframe. It had been arranged so that machine guns could be fired from the rear. Seeing this, it looked as if they were departing to wage war. Meanwhile, the pilots were once again reviewing in their minds how to respond at the moment of crossing.

They were not simply going, trusting only in the performance of the airframes. They had requested the Polia Kingdom and invited the man named Alren, who had experience crossing directly, and they had heard his account of the moment of crossing. Since they had heard it so deeply engraved in their minds, they were in a state of having learned the method of yielding to the wind.

In truth, unless one was a fool, going forward brimming with blind confidence was something that only appeared in stories, and the Magnia Empire’s pilots were in a state of having finished thorough preparation as they readied to depart. In such a scene, flags signaling them to prepare for departure were waving.

The pilots, who had been muttering as if rehearsing, moved their airframes and began lining up on the runway. There were as many as three runways. Along the long runways whose ground had been properly compacted, a total of twelve fighters were lined up.

At the moment all preparations were finished, the flags signaling departure entered the pilots’ view. At that, the lead airplane greatly increased engine speed and began running along the runway.

Bwoong-!

With the engine roaring strongly, the airplane running along the runway lightly rose into the sky. In that scene, on the two other runways, two airframes were also seen taking off at nearly the same moment.

With them taking off in succession, within a short time, all twelve airplanes were airborne, and they immediately began flying toward the place where the enormous mountain range filled their view.

[Chiiik- This is the squadron leader. Everyone, be careful. And the moment passage into the mountain range is achieved, move while thinking of the mission each of you has been assigned. Understood?]

[Understood!]

[I pray we meet again with success.]

[We survived the Great War—how could we die in a place like that? Hahahaha!]

[Hey, I told you not to let your guard down!]

[Everyone, see you again!]

With these voices over the radio, the airplanes, now formed into a squadron, flew straight on. Those watching from the base had no choice but to watch with expectations and tense hearts.

They knew it. Among the airplanes that had departed, there would surely be people who would not be able to return.

After flying more than ten kilometers, the group of airplanes entered the entrance of the great mountain range. Hwi-uuuu-woong-! With the fierce wind blasting in, the airframes began to shake violently. As a result, everyone could not help but put considerable strength into the hands gripping the control yokes.

Rather than resisting the wind blasting in, they were showing a posture of yielding to it. Following the method deeply engraved in their minds, the airframes they were aboard shook violently in the wind as they advanced forward.

With oxygen masks on, eyes behind goggles swept all around repeatedly. They were guarding against the appearance of enemy aircraft that might come. Even as they flew without much difficulty, with enough leeway to show such caution, one airplane suddenly began to shoot upward into the sky as a gust blew in at rapid speed.

At that sight, everyone could not help but widen their eyes. In that instant, they saw the airplane’s double wings break helplessly. In a moment, debris scattered, and it continued into a fall.

Though the wings had been reinforced to endure even these strong winds, they could not withstand the sudden super-gale. In truth, though it was a phenomenon not yet known, among the winds that blew here, there were winds so intense that nothing could endure them, and they would strike frequently.

Though they had lost a comrade, they could not relax, and had no choice but to press forward. After time passed, they could feel that the wind was no longer blowing. At last, they had exited the strong-wind zone and entered a stable area.

[Chijik- Everyone, think only of the mission.]

Since they had gone from twelve to eleven, the atmosphere could not help but be heavy. But as the squadron leader, he had no choice but to prioritize the mission, so he reminded everyone of it over the radio. Following that, they came to their senses and began splitting into three groups.

Each group moved with four airplanes, except one that moved with only three. Split into straight ahead, right, and left, they began scattering in all directions. They scattered in order to gather more information about this place.

Bwoong-

Squadron leader Marcus of the Magnia Empire Air Force could see the gray city beginning to appear in his field of view. Just as the man named Alren, whom they had invited and met, had told them, the city’s location was precisely in view.

‘He said that if we fly low, anti-aircraft fire will come from the city.’

“Fly as high as possible on the outskirts and pass over the city. And be on guard for enemy aircraft that may approach afterward.”

With those words, the four airplanes flew while passing over the city on the ground. There would surely be quite a few who witnessed such a scene. Soon, there would likely be an alarm, and the movement of fighters that would scramble would come.

Was it the moment they had completely passed the city and were flying onward? The co-pilot in the rear, as if he had seen something through binoculars, immediately reported.

“Enemy aircraft estimated at seven are rapidly approaching from the rear!”

“So they’ve come at last.”

Inwardly, he had to consider whether they would attack them immediately, or whether there might be some room for dialogue. Perhaps they might already know who they were. If so, they might attempt dialogue toward them.

‘So, what will you do?’

As squadron leader Marcus thought that and properly reduced speed, the other three airplanes also reduced speed similarly. In that scene, the seven fighters rapidly approaching could be seen.

From that, it was clear that their aviation technology was quite advanced. At a glance, he thought they were nearly as fast as the fighters they were aboard. That meant they were much faster than the speed of the fighter aircraft the Magnia Empire currently used as its main force.

‘Their main fighter is that fast. Clearly, this place’s technology has advanced irrationally.’

On the other hand, if they attacked, he thought there was no reason they could not respond. As he thought that, he could see the fighters approaching even closer. As he watched the shapes of their airframes, it was clear they were quite different from theirs.

‘No attack?’

At that moment, he saw flames appear from their side. At that sight, he instinctively pulled the control yoke to the side, and in that instant, he began to evade the bullets swiftly. U-woong-woong-! With the engine roaring strongly, squadron leader Marcus immediately shouted to the co-pilot.

“Fire!”

Tudadadadadada-!

The co-pilot in the rear began pulling the trigger. As a result, the machine gun installed in the rear began spewing flames from its muzzle. The rapidly flying rounds were aiming at the body of the enemy aircraft that had attempted the attack.

He saw them flash past. In a situation of rapidly maneuvering at speed, it could not help but be difficult to hit enemy aircraft. In that scene, the three other Magnia Empire airplanes also quickly changed direction and began firing their machine guns.

In that scene, the sky here could not help but become an aerial battle. In a way, it was the first battle between fighter aircraft. Meanwhile, squadron leader Marcus made his airframe surge upward to take the rear position.

Following him, the enemy aircraft fired their machine guns wildly, but as he climbed and maneuvered as if a whirlwind was rising, he was making them miss. Having lived as if on the battlefield for a long time, fighting decisive battles against the Doicheun Empire’s air force, this moment of combat was familiar to him.

At the sensation of the battlefield he tasted again after quite a long time, he instinctively licked his lips with his tongue. At the same time, he could see that the skilled co-pilot finally landed hits on the enemy’s wing.

“Hit!”

“Good!”

He turned, brought them level, and seeing the wing-hit enemy aircraft lose its stability, he brought it into a head-on line and pulled the trigger, spraying the machine gun. He could see the rounds hitting the enemy’s body.

“Got it!”

At the same time as he got it, he quickly disengaged through a turn. Even if he had scored a hit and dealt with one, he did not know when enemy aircraft might attack him, so like instinct, he quickly avoided the position. And that action proved correct. He saw bullets pass through the place he had been.

Thus an air battle was unfolding at a count of 4:6. In this situation, the advantage could not help but lie with the Magnia Empire airplanes. In maneuverability, they were similar, but the difference in experience could not help but be large.

No matter how advanced an airframe, in the end, the one using it was a person. For a veteran pilot with abundant combat experience, fighting those without experience could not help but be quite easy.

Unless they had airframes with clearly overwhelming performance, in similar conditions, the result was set.