Compound-type Combat Helicopter

 


The 100-meter super giant Murder Eris.

This Murder, which was created under the assumption that it would mainly operate in the atmosphere, was equipped with multiple anti-aircraft lasers as well as a plasma ram modeled after a hornet’s poison stinger.

An attack from a sharp stinger covered in ultra-high temperature plasma boasted enough power to not only destroy Fortress Area shelters but even large-class battleships with a single blow.

The Hornet-type Keres escorting it were also quite troublesome.

They were Keres equipped with electromagnetic armor, and their production should have been halted previously due to the lack of metallic hydrogen supplies.

They were flying melee units that were essentially miniaturized versions of the Eris and destroyed enemies with their plasma rams.

There were about 200 of them. They were very troublesome enemies that flew at low altitudes.

「Tsk. Those Hornet-types are bad news!」

A Silhouettes piloted by a mercenary retreated.

Electromagnetic armor was useless against a plasma ram. It was a kind of close range piercing weapon.

A half-track armored vehicle equipped with anti-aircraft weaponry went to cover it and attempted to shoot down the Hornet-types.

However, it was quickly flanked and destroyed in one hit. It was a display of the Hornet-type’s aerial maneuverability.

The fact that many of the mercenary Silhouettes were equipped with large-caliber firearms in anticipation of going up against Mantis-types and Ant Commander-types was also a big disadvantage.

The mercenary pilot switched to his machine’s secondary weapons, and assault rifle and carbine, to keep the Keres in check, but their electromagnetic armor prevented him from scoring any critical hits.

Even so, the mercenaries also had powerful reinforcements backing them.

A combat helicopter was flying at low altitude above them. It was a compound helicopter equipped with two ducted propellers.

It was a “hornet” that was piloted by a Familiar.

Combat helicopters were second to none in terms of low-altitude maneuverability.

Although they lagged a bit when it comes to maximum speed, they were still almost on par with the Hornet-type Keres. Their maximum speed was close to 600 km/h.

「Helicopters are really easy to use. Though Kou-san said that the demand was low.」

The Shiba inu-type Familiar aimed at the Hornet-type with its cute, round eyes and shot it down with an anti-aircraft missile.

Combat helicopters were rapidly getting obsolete back in the 21st century due to their increasing vulnerability against infantry anti-air countermeasures, but they managed to survive due to changes in their operational doctrine.

When Kou adopted electromagnetic armor, the first aircraft he developed were a reconnaissance helicopter and a combat helicopter.

This was due to the lack of aerial forces in battles between Silhouettes and Murders. They were made to patrol around the Silhouette Base.

He thought it would be convenient if they had aircraft with good mobility on hand, so they were produced in small numbers.

Even Kou himself never expected things would come to the point where both sides would mass-produce fighter planes. When it was determined that there was a need to for attack helicopters to serve as low-altitude air support, Asia responded by increasing the production, allowing for a sufficient number to be deployed in time.

「You’re trying to flank me huh? I won’t let you do that so easily!」

The Familiar pilot countered the Hornet-type’s maneuvers with sudden acceleration and a steep climb.

The theoretical maximum speed of a helicopter was originally about 400 km/h. By installing a separate propulsion mechanism, this limit can be broken.

The dog-type Familiar smiled thinly as he faced off against the Hornet-type.

While firing the autocannon, he moved to flank the Hornet-type and fired an anti-air missile.

Even though it was blocked by the electromagnetic armor, the Hornet-type still lost its balance due to the missile.

At that moment, a tank on the ground fired its main gun at the Hornet-type, successfully bringing it down.

At first, Kou tried to incorporate jet propulsion into the helicopter design due to the influence of a TV drama he saw as a child, but Astraea stopped him in the end.

Kou then thought if this was the case, then it would be better to bricolage a low-speed fighter instead. Jet propulsion and rotors were good at different altitudes.

Were they taking revenge for their fallen comrade or were they simply programmed this way? Many other Hornet-types swarmed the combat helicopter in retaliation.

「This is bad! There’s too many of them!」

The Silhouette pilot shouted in distress.

A large group of attack helicopters rushed to their aid in response to his call. There were 20 of them.

「Don’t get too close, everyone!」

Shoot them from range.

A fox-type Familiar instructed her comrades.

Even if the enemies were equipped with electromagnetic armor, they wouldn’t be able to remain unscathed under continuous fire.

「This is the Thunderclap. I’m joining in on the attack.」

An Akita inu-type Familiar arrived on the scene piloting a Thunderclap attack aircraft.

Its heavy Gatling roared to life and turned the enemy Hornet-type Keres into scrap.

With flight at higher altitudes blocked, the attack helicopters were demonstrating their tremendous capabilities.

In addition to direct combat, they also went on patrol missions, and the enemy positions were shared with tank and Silhouette units on the ground in real-time.

The Silhouettes stepped out to provide cover, concentrated their fire, and shot down enemy machines as well.

The anti-aircraft armored vehicles also participated in the counterattack from a distance.

The Metal Iris troops steadily defeated the highly mobile Hornet-type Keres through the solid cooperation between their ground and air units.


「How much longer will it take for the Eris to arrive?」

「I believe it’s about 20 minutes away. It’s heading from Fortress Area R001 straight to here.」

「Understood. Prepare the rail catapult!」

A huge area of open water that also served as a space port. A rail catapult was present in it as well.

The Aristides was currently staying there. As the place wasn’t in the sea, the ship wasn’t anchored.

A gigantic catapult rose from the water, and the Aristides that was mounted on the catapult’s rail slowly advanced.

It stopped once it got into position.

「Rail catapult, launch preparations complete.」

「OK. From here on out, we’ll be commencing our reckless strategy. This is your last chance to abandon ship, people.」

No one responded. Everyone placed their trust in Robert.

「Are you guys really fine with this?」

「It’s too late to back out now that we’ve come this far, Captain-dono.」

A cat-eared Therianthrope lady displayed a wry grin.

The other cat-type Familiars were Calico cat models. They were all in high spirits.

「Once Eris reaches a certain point, we’ll immediately launch in the Aristides. Don’t let your guard down, everyone!」

「Aye, Captain!」

The expressions of everyone within the combat command center tensed up.

They were about to perform an unprecedented strategy.

「I can’t believe I’m about to engage something like the Eris in aerial combat with an amphibious assault spaceship. What an experience.」

「You don’t see an Eris flying at you every day after all!」

Robert laughed heartily.

The Aristides was going to launch using the rail catapult.

It was going to engage the Eris in aerial combat.

The spaceship Aristides was capable of atmospheric escape and aerial flight.

Even so, it was still reckless to engage the Eris that was focused on close range combat head-on.

「If worse comes to worst, we can always give it the slip and escape into space.」

Even though they were planning to engage the Eris in aerial combat, the engagement window was quite short.

Will they get shot down in an instant, or will their attack end in success?

It can be said that this was a high-stakes all-out gamble. That’s why Robert was reluctant to involve others in the plan.

「You say that, but you’re probably just gonna turn around and reengage it later right, Captain?」

「Right, right. It looks like we’re gonna get in a massive aerial brawl!」

The Calico cat-type Familiars were really looking forward to the aerial battle.

They all chose to stay for Robert’s sake.

「We’ll now be conducting the Eris Destruction Operation. It’s a highly dangerous mission, but I’m counting on you all!」

「Yes!」

All the crew members within the combat command center responded affirmatively.

「Now then, let’s get going, you guys. We’re gonna show that monster. We’re gonna show it how a space combat ship fights.」

Sweat seeped out of Robert’s forehead due to the tension as he chuckled lightly.

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