Ultralightweight Transformable Unit
「We’re going to intercept the enemy fighters. Please hurry up with the launch prep.」
The ice carrier had started taking attacks from the enemy fighter pack.
The aircraft carrier Jun’you hurriedly prepared its own fighters in order to intercept the enemy planes.
「The enemy is a fighter pack huh? It looks like the twin-engine planes can’t gain much altitude due to being inside an enclosed space. If that’s the case, then we have the advantage.」
Eri analyzed the combat situation and issued her orders.
The Jun’you’s carrier-based fighters prepared for sortie.
「Launch the Type-7s!」
The carrier-based fighter planes piloted by Familiars took off one after another from the Jun’you.
The fighter model was developed by Gogyou Heavy Industries Development Engineer Horigome. It was a single-engine fighter that emphasized maneuverability.
「Launch the Type-0s next!」
The Silhouettes that were called the Type-0 emerged from the deck.
Their forearms and lower legs were covered by thick armor plating.
However, the rest of their torsos, their upper arms, and their thighs were comparatively slimmer. They were so thin that you could describe them as sticks. There probably were no other Silhouette models with a body line as thin as theirs.
At first glance, the Type-0’s head module was equipped with a mono-eye sensor, but it was also equipped with an overhead visor that can drop down to cover the sensor.
The visor drops down when the Type-0 is shooting from medium to long range, but it swings up when it engages in close combat. In close combat mode, the visor resembled a warrior’s cloth headband. It also probably served as a defense measure to protect the camera sensor.
The Type-0s took off one after another. They quickly gained altitude. They were machines that were equipped with a considerable amount of thrust.
The Type-7 fighters took off from the carrier’s catapult as well.
Before long, the Type-0 squadron engaged the enemy fighters in combat.
They fought by taking advantage of their outstanding climbing rate made possible by their powerful thrusters in order to ambush the enemy fighter pack from above.
Since the enemy fighters were only equipped with anti-ship missiles, they could only resort to fighting the Type-0s with their machine guns.
「Wait! Don’t tell me–!」
A fighter pack pilot cried out in astonishment.
Before he knew it, the humanoid Silhouette coming at him from above transformed into a tri-wing fighter.
「It’s a transforming unit!?」
The pilot was dumbfounded. That was because he didn’t spot a backpack unit that normally would be the part that allowed a Silhouette to transform into a fighter mode.
There were generally two types of transformation mechanisms. One has the Silhouette carry all the fighter components on its back, which then collapses onto the rest of the Silhouette’s body when transforming like the Tachycineta.
Another only carried the main fighter components on its back, while the rest of the components are equipped all over the rest of the Silhouette’s body and utilized as additional armor like the Yoania and the Arular.
And now, it seemed that the Type-0 was of a third variant. Or perhaps, it can be said as an offshoot of the Yoania’s transformation mechanism.
It wore the fighter components all over its body as additional armor like the Yoania, but unlike the Yoania, it discarded the rest of its armor plating that’s not part of the fighter transformation mechanism, resulting in its extremely slim frame. Without the fighter components, it would just look like a bare Silhouette skeletal frame equipped with an MCS.
Its delta wings were equipped on the Silhouette’s forearms, and the horizontal stabilizers were on each of its legs. The vertical stabilizer and its single engine were mounted on its back. Thrust vectoring nozzles were also installed on its back and limbs respectively.
The transformed Type-0 was equipped with multiple anti-aircraft missiles. It was also equipped with a 75 mm machine cannon that could be used in both fighter and Silhouette modes.
Although its fuselage was on its rear, it was made to be compact.
The characteristic close-coupled delta canard of the Type-0’s fighter mode served to reduce weight and improve mobility.
It can be said to be a machine that sought exceptional acceleration and high maneuverability.
It was also a control configured vehicle (CCV) that’s been pushed to its current technical limits. The static stability of the fuselage itself has been basically discarded, and it’s made up for by the automatic controls of the MCS and various thrusters.
The span of the airframe design has also been expanded, allowing for the limitations of a plane to be reduced once the Silhouette transforms into its humanoid form.
It was equipped with the same detonation engine as the Lanius, and its four limbs were all equipped with thrust vectoring nozzles. Its main thruster was a single-engine type.
The Lanius utilizes oblique detonation waves to support the movements of its limbs, but Type-0 uses detonation waves as its main means of movement.
『Gogyou Heavy Industries…… To think they actually made another abnormal transformable machine. It has a metallic hydrogen storage type reactor coupled with that sort of maneuverability and speed. Its the very definition of an ultralightweight machine. The weight of the machine itself is just less than 15 tons.』
It was a transformable machine that even Astraea was amazed at.
『Its extremely thin armor is quite a disadvantage, but it can also serve as a significant advantage. It’s a Silhouette whose performance greatly differs depending on the skills of its pilot. It should be quite picky pilot-wise, but its combat potential is relatively high.』
「Type-0! Amazing!」
Aimer couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration after witnessing the Type-0’s speed, maneuverability, and combat power.
The transformed Type-0 Silhouette and the pack fighter passed each other.
Without hesitation, the Type-0 placed its rifle back on its left hip, pulled out its inbuilt tachi long sword from its right shoulder, and proceeded to stab the pack fighter from above.
Cold Blade. It was a Silhouette blade made by adding various types of atoms to cold die steel that was originally used in cold working and shaping it into a Silhouette-use blade. Its tribological properties contributed to its concealed sharpness.
It’s capable of cutting right through high-dimensional projection armor as long as its reinforced with Whis, and its overall toughness was also quite high.
「Thank you very much, Admiral Aimer. Right now, Goyou Heavy Industries is still unable to purchase metallic hydrogen generation type reactors. So, we tried our best to create an aircraft that combines mobility, maneuverability, cruising range, and price.」
Eri offered her thanks. It seemed that she was happy that her company’s weapons were so highly regarded.
Gogyou Heavy Industries was originally a company that specialized in manufacturing tanks and Silhouettes, but due to lacking crucial technology, they were unable to manufacture aircraft. When Kou distributed new technology to the public, their research, and development related to aircraft progressed by leaps and bounds.
「On the other hand, there’s a trade-off between armor and carrying capacity. We currently have 300 active Type-0s on this battlefield. I believe this more than proves the model’s suitability for mass production.」
「I’m sorry, but can you tell us its selling price to mercenaries?」
Aki displayed her curiosity.
「Let’s see. About 500,000 minas, I believe. That’s about 5 billion in Japanese Yen.」
「How cheap…… The Tachycineta sells for 3,000,000 minas mostly due to its metallic hydrogen generation reactor, but even the relatively simpler and more stripped-down Heat Lightning already retails for 800,000 minas. To think it’s even cheaper than the Heat Lightning.」
Aki began to consider buying a few Type-0s for Kou.
『Aki, Please record the entirety of the Type-0’s live combat performance in detail ASAP. Prioritize it immediately.』
「Understood. But do we really have to go that far?」
『In order to prevent Kou from taking an interest in that earlier propeller plane, the sword-wielding Type-0 will serve as the perfect distraction– Ahem, I mean research subject.』
「I actually agree with that idea, so you don’t have to hold it in, Astraea. Just speak freely.」
As they watched, the Type-0s continued to bring down the enemy pack fighters one after another.
The Type-7s that were right behind them were also nimble single-engine light fighters that provided excellent support.
However, the Type-0’s weak defense was truly a big disadvantage.
「Look out!」
A railgun shell and anti-aircraft machine gunshots fired from the ground headed straight for a Type-0.
Even though it had ultimately managed to avoid them somehow, it was eventually hit by an anti-aircraft missile fired by a pack fighter, damaging its left arm and left thrust vectoring nozzle.
The Silhouette-use combustion-type light gas rifles and railguns can shoot rounds at speeds ranging from Mach 5 to Mach 9. Avoiding them was usually next to impossible. That’s why high-dimensional projection armor and electromagnetic armor were developed.
However, the Type-0’s defense was simply too light. Its exceedingly slim appearance already indicated that it was a machine that focuses on evasion through preemptive positioning, mobility, and maneuverability.
Evasive maneuvers and engaging enemy machines in positioning battles. Since this was its bread and butter, the Type-0’s pilots had no choice but to make up for its flaws with their skills.
Although it was equipped with electromagnetic armor, it wasn’t enough to make up for the shortcoming of the armor being thin.
The thrusters of the Type-0 that was hit were still working. It barely managed to skim above the sea’s surface while performing evasive maneuvers.
In order to protect the damaged Type-0, Type-7s and Edge Swifts went in to provide it cover.
「Type-2! Please, Emily!」
「Leave it to me!」
The raccoon-dog type Familiar named Emily quickly responded.
She had already headed out even before Eri could give out further orders. An aircraft accompanying the escort fleet headed to the Type-0’s rescue.
The Type-2 large flying boat.
It was an amphibious aircraft that doubled as both a plane and a ship. Its large frame dwarfed even the Thunderstorm.
It also served as a transport watercraft that assists the carrier strike group during operations.
It was a giant flying boat that was basically a flying heavily armored vehicle. Both its aerial and ground combat capabilities were quite decent.
It was equipped with huge ducted fans and also had floats on both wings.
The floats have built-in water jets that allow the Type-2 to sprint across the sea surface.
The Type-2 covered the Type-0 to protect it from machine gun fire. Since it was akin to an armored vehicle that could fly and navigate water surfaces, it was able to take its fair share of hits.
It retrieved the damaged Type-0 and quickly flew off in retreat.
「The ground artillery is pretty troublesome.」
「Yes. They have sniper Silhouettes on top of buildings and a large number of defense Silhouettes stationed on the coast.」
Aimer and the others analyzed the battlefield.
「We’re conducting naval bombardment, but it’s not that effective against small targets. The Boons are moving around the buildings of the Fortress Area. They’re currently focusing on attacking the enemy air bases and ammunition depots.」
Even the Gracious Queen that sported a 460 mm main gun wasn’t that effective against Silhouette-sized targets.
「Please rest assured, everyone. I’ve just finished performing a bricolage while at sea.」
Abel sent in a transmission and displayed a confident smile.
「Abel-san, just what are you planning to do this time around……? What exactly did you build?」
Eri, who has known the other party for a long time, asked him directly with a sigh.
「Don’t get too surprised. Please look at this, everyone.」
A detailed aerial map of Fortress Area R001 was sent to all allied parties. It was an easy-to-understand map that could switch between a 2D map and an aerial view.
「This is?」
「I obtained this thanks to our ever-reliable Familiar friends. The Boons conducted some photo-reconnaissance. They did it in conjunction with the ground attacks. I made a composite of all the images they sent me and finished it just now!」
Abel proudly puffed out his chest.
『It is very well made.』
Astraea acknowledged the map’s quality.
It’s been more than 30 years since Fortress Area R001 fell into enemy control.
Therefore, it was reasonable to expect that its internal structure had changed since then.
Therefore, the detailed map that was sent to them was the most current aerial map of the Fortress Area. Using it, enemy gathering points and supply routes can be estimated.
It would be easier to estimate which facilities should be priority targets with it. It also opened up the possibility of them setting up a supply line themselves.
「It’s truly amazing. What a pleasant surprise.」
Eri nodded approvingly. Her tone was deadpan though, but Abel was indeed a talented individual. It’s just that he puts his excellent talents to use in really strange directions sometimes. Aimer and the others had gotten a decent grasp of his quirky character despite their short acquaintance.
「Then we’ll move on to landing operations. Is this fine, Admiral Aimer?」
「Please. Astraea doesn’t have any ground forces it can deploy.」
「Understood. Commence the landing operation. Begin analyzing potential priority targets using the provided aerial map. Hurry and prepare the landing crafts!」
George quickly issued orders.
The aerial carrier Gracious Queen was a multi-role ship. She also had a high Silhouette carrying capacity.
「It’s going to be quite dangerous, so you lads and lasses from Gogyou should land after us.」
「Understood. Oh, and just to be clear, what exactly are you planning for the opening act?」
George turned away from Eri’s questioning gaze.
Feeling quite uneasy from George’s reaction, Aimer couldn’t help but yelp.
「Eh?」
「We will attack the enemy fortress using my newly developed weapons!」
Instead of George, it was Abel who confidently replied.
「We’ll show them alright. We’ll show them exactly what a true panjandrum is! Using two types of panjandrum, we will crush the enemy’s key facilities!」
Aimer didn’t miss the fact that Aki and Astraea covered their faces with both hands in consternation.
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