KSX-01X Hrafnagud
「Barry, did you already know? About Kurt-san’s survival, I mean.」
Jenny sent a transmission to Barry who was in the Cimon-class.
「Course, I didn’t. I haven’t heard anything as well. I swear, there ain’t any other army in history who fails to read into the movements of their allies as bad as us.」
「Sorry. This is my fault. I hadn’t taken note of it at the time, but when we sought the approval of the corporate alliance, we were informed that five Development Engineers had given their consent. Since Kou shouldn’t be included in that number, it wasn’t a stretch to surmise that one of the five was Kurt-san.」
Aki interjected into Jenny and Barry’s conversation.
「Right, there was that! Why didn’t I think of that!?」
「It looks like he was staying at TAKABA. His machine was airdropped by a blue Thunderstorm. That’s the one Kou gifted to TAKABA.」
「Except for the Silhouette Base, only TAKABA is capable of repairing the Huckebein. That’s because the armor muscle systems used by TAKABA and Kurt Maschinenbau have complete compatibility.」
「I see. He escaped all the way to that place huh. They certainly would have sent pursuers after him straight away if they ever found out he was there. And it doesn’t help that the Mercenary Association couldn’t really be trusted.」
Fortress Area D516 should be quite far from the Fortress Area where TAKABA was based in.
Kurt should have had to rely on making use of various back channels and other transport means to reach the place.
It must have been extremely difficult, especially since he also had to keep his identity a secret.
「Commander Barry, I request to participate in the engagement with the Ate.」
Aki cut in.
「Why? Do you have some kind of plan?」
「Yes.」
「Seriously? Understood. Go ahead!」
「I will handle things from here.」
Aimer took over the transmission duties. Barry nodded.
「He’s an ally equivalent to a thousand troops. This should be interesting.」
It was a team-up between Kurt and Kou.
Their morale should have risen significantly.
「Kou, the very same day you sent me these swords was when Kurt arrived at our company as well. I was truly surprised.」
「So, that’s what happened……」
「I was being targeted. I couldn’t make use of public transport planes and travelled under an alias until I finally reached Hyoue-san’s place. And with his help, I was able to transform the Huckebein into its complete form, the Hrafnagud.」
KSX-01 Hrafnagud. It was a machine that Kurt couldn’t have completed on his own.
It was an ultimate Silhouette that pursued extreme mobility through the employment of unassisted flight capability, allowing it superior three-dimensional maneuverability.
Fortunately, TAKABA where Kurt had escaped to already had more than enough materials, technology, and expertise to complete his vision. That’s because they had both worked together with Kou to improve the Lanius and Accipiter designs.
Aside from Kou and Hyoue’s input and Kurt’s own flight technology knowhow, there was also the research contributions of Hyoue’s good friend, Kinukawa Eiji.
It can be said that the final machine was a product of the research results gained from various high-end Silhouette models.
The demonic sword it wielded was newly designed. It bears the name of the sword that Odin bestowed upon a chosen hero. It was a prototype great sword that employed the arc blade technology that Hyoue received from Kou.
The azure-colored Accipiter that wielded two swords.
The dark gray-colored Lanius Unit 5 C-type with a tachi equipped on its waist, ready to be drawn at a moment’s notice.
And the jet-black Hrafnagud wielding Gram.
The three fearsome machines stood side by side on the battlefield. They were probably the Silhouettes with the best overall performance in the entirety of Planet Asia, and were ridden by pilots of the highest class.
The Metal Iris troops who stood behind them also felt their overwhelming pressure. They felt that they might never again encounter a battlefield with such masters gathered together for the rest of their lives.
They felt that the three couldn’t possibly lose when fighting together.
There was something about them that made others think so.
「Those uncouth fellows are coming over. –We’ll talk to our heart’s content later. Let’s go, Kurt-san, Kou!」
「Right. To think a day I’d get to fight together with you would come, Hyoue.」
「Yes!」
Kou couldn’t help himself from getting excited.
Beside him were two people who he really wanted to meet again. And now, he was about to fight together with swordfighters who he admired greatly.
In the wake of the three Silhouettes, a trail of violence and destruction quickly followed.
The high-dimensional projection armor of the enemy Murders was torn easily like paper.
It was an advance akin to that of a destructive storm.
Badb Cathas and Epos followed behind the three, with the Laniuses and Wurgers bringing up the rear.
They tried desperately to keep up with the three machines that were rapidly tearing through the ranks of the enemy Murders.
Even Mantis-types were cut down with only a single slash.
It didn’t take long for the last Enyo to fall as well.
「So, we’re finally gonna face the Ate huh? Should we wipe out the surrounding Keres and hit it with anti-ship missiles?」
Kou muttered. At that moment, a transmission came from Aki.
「I’m heading to your location now. I’ll indicate its weak points to you based on the data we received from Astraea. Cut open this part of the Ate and pierce through its insides.」
An image was sent to the three. The image contained a diagram of the Ate, and a spot was marked on its back.
「Haha. This lass sure can propose some crazy stuff.」
Hyoue softly laughed.
「I fully believe the three of you can pull it off.」
Aki responded in a matter-of-fact manner with a serious expression.
It was certainly dangerous. One can even say it was reckless. However, it was certainly not impossible for the three who were present.
「It’s doable. It certainly is. If it’s the three of us, then it’s possible.」
Kurt acknowledged Aki.
Actually, the plan can only be pulled off by the three of them. The tactic of cutting directly into the Ate, that is.
「If we pierce it with a sword, the reactor will die immediately. If we can get a clean shot, we can blow it up.」
「It’s akin to that monster’s weak point, as well as its reverse scale.」
「I personally think it’s faster to stab it with a sword. If we end up having to shoot it, please make sure to quickly get away from the line of fire.」
It was hard to fire a shot that would be able to penetrate the exact point on the Ate’s back. That’s because the shot has to be fired from the air.
「We will do our best to wipe out the surrounding Murders.」
Jenny volunteered herself. She wanted to get her hands on an arc blade of her own no matter what.
「Got it. I’ll leave it to you, Jenny. And Aki, are you going to use that ammunition?」
「That’s right. With that, we should be able to launch an effective cover fire as well. I admit that it’s rather dangerous though.」
「If it’s Aki and Nyanta, I believe you can use those well.」
Kou gave his agreement. He was thankful for their support.
Now, one of the three swordsmen simply needed to break through. They were going to perform a highly difficult task that was only possible because it was the three of them.
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