Transformable Airborne Troops
In conjunction with the hovertank troops, multiple Silhouettes dropped from the Astraea as well.
Leading them were the Lanius C, Hrafnagud, and Accipiter.
They were followed soon after by Badb Cathas.
After confirming their drop, the transformable Silhouettes also launched one after another from the flight deck.
They were composed of the Yoania, Tachycineta, and Heat Lightning squadrons.
The squadrons of Silhouettes capable of unassisted flight being assisted by fighter escorts was a magnificent sight.
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that there was no other elite unit quite like theirs on Planet Asia.
They were the Asia Rescue Unit; a special high-mobility unit fully composed of fast, flight-capable Silhouettes and fighters.
There were a total of over 60 transformable Silhouettes, flight-capable Silhouettes, and fighters in the unit.
They flew low as they commenced their invasion of enemy airspace.
They were heading for the enemy base. Thus, they couldn’t afford to let their guards down.
They bypassed the main battlefield, flew just above the forest canopy, and rushed onward.
After a while, they finally came in contact with the enemy’s security net.
They faced continuous anti-aircraft fire as they advanced at high speed.
「It’s anti-air fire from Silhouette-controlled bunkers. This deployment style is probably Vasa’s handiwork. They resemble pillboxes.」
「Since they went to the trouble of setting this up outside a Fortress Area, it does give off the feeling that we’re approaching a very crucial base.」
Kurt relayed his observations, and Kurose gave a warning in turn.
Bunkers were meant to protect personnel and supplies regardless of being armed or not, and pillboxes mainly served to protect fortifications. And Kurt pointed out that they were widely employed by the Russians. They were used to defend the Eastern Bloc back on Earth.
There were various types, from bunkers that housed tanks and anti-aircraft vehicles to ones that housed dedicated anti-aircraft gun batteries.
The construction of pillboxes despite the presence of a shelter that is able to block meteorite rains around the Fortress Area was proof that their target was a very important base.
The transformable airborne troops rushed through the sky at high speed while keeping an eye on the Silhouettes that they were escorting from above.
The further they progressed, the more intense the anti-aircraft barrage became.
「Big Boss, leave this place to our Badb Catha unit! We’ll show them the might of the SAS!」
「This is the Heat Lightning squadron. We’ll assist the Badb Catha unit!」
A young man from Kurt Maschinenbau bravely offered to stay behind. The mercenary unit from Skunk Technology also offered to stay.
Their machines were slightly inferior to the rest when it comes to mobility and cruising ability. However, they were well-suited to taking on the enemy defense forces head-on.
The Heat Lightning sported a metallic hydrogen storage type reactor. Hence, its fuel was limited. That’s why it was more advantageous for the mid-range Heat Lightnings to fight in conjunction with the close-range Badb Cathas.
「We’ll leave this to you guys then!」
Kou decided to trust them and their skills.
The Badb Cathas swooped down and started engaging the enemy troops.
The Armadillos of the enemy defense forces were no match against the specialized high-mobility machines that fully took advantage of their flight and 3D movement capabilities.
The heavy machine cannons were helpless against the Heat Lightnings that were flying around the sky, and when the enemy machines tried to switch to rocket launchers, the Heat Lightnings quickly closed in and slashed them.
The Badb Catha’s armored muscles and actuators let out powerful roars as they quickly cut through the Armadillo’s armor with their swords.
The thickness of the armor was actually more important during close-quarters engagements, but even though the Armadillos were more resistant to slashing attacks compared to the electromagnetic armor-equipped Bisons, they were still virtually defenseless against the Badb Catha.
The pillboxes were meticulously crushed one by one by the Heat Lightning squadron.
Within the pillboxes were either worker Silhouettes or Armadillos. They weren’t the Heat Lightning’s match.
The more they stood out, the more they could attract the attention of the defense forces.
Hence, the Badb Catha unit rampaged as hard as they could.
As Kou and the rest expected, the defenses of the Fortress Area was rock-solid.
The next enemies they encountered were a pack of fighters and an Arular air formation.
The ones piloting the Arular were Lacedaemons. They were the humans who were chosen specifically by the Stones.
「Kurose! Let’s go! It’s our turn!」
「Understood, Jenny! Kou, just go ahead and leave these guys to us!」
The Yoanias and Tachycinetas fired their air-to-air missiles and broke the enemy pack’s orderly formation.
The Arulars used their electromagnetic barriers to intercept the missiles before they could get in contact.
In combat between transformable machines, dealing decisive blows using air-to-air missiles was unlikely due to the machine’s thick armor and other defensive measures.
Both sides were flying at a low altitude. They were not in a position to engage in an all-out dogfight.
Hence, both sides transformed their machines into Silhouette mode to engage in close combat.
By transforming into humanoid forms, the air resistance is increased, allowing for a swift descent.
As long as the artificial sun was still active in the sky, flying at high altitudes was not possible. A ground battle was less risky compared to fighting at a half-baked altitude.
Both sides began shooting and slashing against the other.
The Arulars weren’t bad when it comes to close and medium range, but they were up against the wrong opponents.
The Yoanias trumped the Arulars when it comes to melee capabilities, taking full advantage of their impressive acceleration that didn’t match their relatively large frames. The Tachycinetas, on the other hand, excelled at high-speed shoot-outs. They concentrated on offering cover fire from behind the Yoanias.
During this time, Kou and the others gradually lost altitude, passed through the forest of trees that were nearly 20 meters tall, and rushed straight toward the Fortress Area.
「Kurt-san!」
They could already see the shelter that was covering the Fortress Area ahead of them.
Kou pulled out a large rifle from behind Unit 5. It was an anti-fortress rifle.
「Mm. Now’s the time to put the anti-fortress rifle you game me to good use.」
Kurt’s Hrafnagud had been granted two new equipment.
The first one was the『Neo Gram』. It was a two-handed straight sword that Arges forged especially for Kurt.
The other was the『Gungnir』; an anti-fortress rifle designed and made exclusively for the Hrafnagud. It was tuned specifically for the Hrafnagud’s use.
The two fired at the same time.
Both of their machines held their rifles with two hands. Even their machine’s high-performance armor muscles couldn’t completely negate the rifle’s powerful recoil.
After a thunderous roar rang out, a part of the shelter surrounding the Fortress Area easily collapsed.
「A transmission just came in. It seems that Gogyou Heavy Industries and BAS are currently dealing a heavy blow against the Fortress Area. I can’t fathom exactly what they’re up to though.」
Kou relayed the report to his two seniors.
Aki’s gaze was blank when she reported to Kou, and he found it worrying that even Astraea seemed off, but Aimer told him not to mind them.
In any case, something that greatly affected Aki and Astraea definitely happened.
「Fumu? I wonder what they’re doing over there?」
「Haha. They’re probably going on quite the rampage. Maybe the Argonauts are in chaos due to the constant introduction of new weapons on the battlefield.」
The three proceeded to infiltrate the Fortress Area with their doubts unresolved.
「Ah, I knew it. They were waiting to ambush us huh?」
Kurt’s eyes clouded over.
He had found an enemy he could not afford to ignore.
Jet-black Silhouettes gathered one after another in front of the three of them.
They were machines of the same type as the Badb Catha that was created by Kurt. The bloodthirsty ravens have finally appeared.
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