Which attack target should be sniped for the most efficient results?
「That’s the fifth one!」
Blue calmly sniped the transformable Silhouettes in the sky while counting the number of units shot down. Moving from pile of rubble to pile of rubble, she kept changing her position while targeting the enemy.
Currently, the Canary’s weapon had been reverted to a railgun. After Nyanta’s self-destruction and Blue’s hard-fought battle against the sniper unit that left the Canary severely damaged, it was decided that the Anti-Fortress Rifle should not be used in a chaotic battle due to the risk of the enemy seizing it.
Nyanta and Aki created new conventional weapons to substitute for the Anti-Fortress Rifle. Blue received a 120mm helical railgun. This new armament, based on the captured enemy sniper weapon, was adjusted specifically for Blue. It was designed to improve rapid-fire performance to some extent while still having enough power to destroy lightly armored Silhouettes with a single shot.
Although the Canary was equipped with armor muscle that was not compatible with high-energy-consuming equipment, the new twin reactors installed on it, similar to the ones loaded in Unit 5, made it possible. The armor muscle of the Canary was used to effectively control the recoil, allowing the Canary to master the unruly helical railgun.
「Quite a number of fighters have appeared. To think the enemy is able to deploy that many transformable Silhouettes!」
A squadron of enemy fighters infiltrated from above. They were Arulars and what seemed to be an improved model based on it. Metal Iris also sent out the vertical takeoff-able interceptor Edge Swift to intercept the Arulars, but the number of interceptors that could simultaneously sortie was limited, and without using the runway, the other aircraft could not launch.
Air superiority was entirely in the enemy’s hands. They were at a disadvantage.
The ground forces, including the Quattro Silhouettes and the mercenary units’ Silhouettes, had sailed out to intercept the enemy’s ground attack, but they were struggling against the enemy’s high-performance machines. Particularly troublesome were the Arachne types that first broke through, mainly due to their formidable destructive power and excellent terrain traversal capabilities.
The Metal Iris tank unit was also putting up a good fight, but the Silhouettes providing escort were being taken out first, forcing them to retreat. Blue couldn’t help but feel that the situation was turning grim, the low possibility of receiving reinforcements made it very challenging to change the situation for the better.
Artillery fire from the wheeled combat vehicles in the rear continued. Although the tracked and half-tracked armored vehicles had been converted into tank destroyers, most of the enemy units were equipped with electromagnetic armor, making it difficult for them to deliver a fatal blow, and the anti-aircraft vehicles were being clearly targeted by the enemy making it difficult to use them effectively.
「Blue, the enemy has air superiority. Sniper units need to be especially cautious.」
「Understood, Kou.」
Blue responded to Kou’s communication. Airstrikes from above were effective in taking out sniping units. They had to be vigilant.
「The enemy assault Silhouettes are advancing quickly. Sniper units, fall back. Prioritize enemy patrol planes and fighters. Provide ground combat support as needed.」
Blue had just given these instructions to the allied forces.
Silhouettes started descending one after another from the sky, these were high-performance units that didn’t need parachutes. Another unfamiliar formation of Silhouettes acting as escorts of the former units appeared.
「Is this their main force?! How many new models have they been hiding?!」
Blue couldn’t help but groan at the overwhelming display of power.
A group of jet-black Silhouettes descended from above using only their own propulsion. It was a collection of new models mainly Ravens. A Corvus was also present.
「They intend to take control of the destroyed urban district. Everyone, pull back the front line.」
While issuing orders and retreating, Blue sniped at the descending new enemy models. The hit enemies sparked violently and almost toppled but managed to regain their posture by fully firing their thrusters.
「Electromagnetic armor… That output. Could it be that all those enemies are equipped with metal hydrogen generation reactors?」
The new models noticed Blue. They immediately accelerated their thrusters to maximum and moved seeking cover. Flying through the air, they moved from building to building in quick succession.
Blue concealed herself in a half-collapsed building. New model fighters were circling overhead, seemingly searching for her.
「They even have new variable-wing fighters…」
If they were pursuing her, it was convenient. It would allow the slower sniper units to put more distance between themselves and the enemy. With the Canary’s mobility, she should be able to escape.
Units from TAKABA and Kurt Corporation gathered to intercept. These high-performance Silhouettes were beyond the capability of regular Silhouettes to handle. The pilots from these two companies were elite, selected units.
Blue and the sniper units that had fallen back also moved in to provide support. The air battle had to be left to the aerial units. While headshots might have limited effectiveness, they weren’t entirely useless. Damaging the sensors would slow down the enemy’s advance.
「Stay calm and think, Blue. In this situation, which targets should be sniped to achieve the most efficient results? Think…」
She reminded herself—
Unlike sniping at human targets, where a one-shot kill was possible, sniping at Silhouettes had the disadvantage of not being able to deliver a fatal blow immediately. However, the role of snipers, efficiently eliminating key targets as safely as possible remained the same. In such a chaotic battlefield, the enemy commanders and patrol planes would be their primary targets. But the presumed command unit, the Corvus, and the new specialized units were units based on the Huckebein, and like their original, those units were likely covered in multiple layers of armored muscle. They were not targets that could be taken down with sniping.
Then—the target had to be something else. Blue resolved to take down the unknown new variable-wing fighters. Currently, the Corvus and its guards were in a defensive maneuver as they descended, flying in wide circles.
The enemy’s squad consisted of new variable-wing fighters, but one of them had a different shape. It was a peculiar aircraft, not carrying missiles on its pylons and only equipped with what seemed to be a main cannon. Blue identified it as the command unit and decided to snipe it. If it was an aircraft, it should be brought down with a single shot. She pulled the trigger.
The projectile landed on the lower part of the fighter, looking like it had penetrated through its body. However, after a small explosion, it left only a large dent. The fighter executed an impossibly sharp turn, revealing two parallel lift thruster nozzles in addition to its main jet.
The second shot struck the left side of the fuselage near the front, but it still didn’t cause significant damage.
「What thick armor…! It has the same defensive power as armored muscle!」
Blue felt a sense of urgency. The armor was too thick for a fighter. Despite the considerable distance, the new enemy unit was heading towards her. Without hesitation, Blue jumped off the building to evade. The current location, now under enemy control, had few hiding spots.
She began moving through alleys suitable for the size of her Silhouette. Using minimal thruster movement, she dashed between buildings and finally concealed herself on top of one. She chose this spot near a large building so she could quickly resume sniping actions near the front lines.
The lock-on alarm blared.
「Where is it?!」
Blue was stunned that she hadn’t managed to shake off the enemy. She had taken a carefully planned route that should have been impossible to track from the air. Despite her thorough vigilance, she couldn’t see the enemy’s shadow.
In the Canary’s blind spot, a variable-wing fighter was vertically ascending from behind. She noticed it a moment too late. The main cannon mounted under the fighter’s nose was locked onto the Canary. The fighter revealed its underside and began transforming right in front of her.
The nozzles, which acted as lift engines, moved to the back. The nose section shifted downwards to the chest area, becoming chest armor. It was an unusual sight, with the fighter’s nose now forming part of the chest.
The main thrust vectoring nozzles rose to the center of the back, and the main wings spread out like actual wings. The main engine transformed into the main thruster, while the auxiliary lift thrust vectoring nozzles turned into sub-thrusters. It had three thrust vectoring nozzles. The horizontal and vertical stabilizers converted into leg armor, completing the transformation.
「From behind? I thought it was a vertical takeoff and landing VTOL!」
The only weapon it had was the main cannon. As the nose of the fighter descended, the main cannon, which had been hanging beneath it, was now in its hands, aimed at the Canary. Before the Canary could even turn around, the enemy had pulled the trigger.
Several rounds were fired into the Canary.
「Damn…」
The rear thruster was destroyed. The MCS and the reactor seemed to be intact.
「What kind of weapon is that…!」
It was an unfamiliar weapon. Although it was roughly the size of a rifle, its caliber wasn’t particularly large. However, its projectile speed was close to that of a railgun, and it fired rapidly, making it an unusual armament.
The shooting stopped. The reason was unclear. It seemed the enemy wasn’t in a hurry to finish her off. Blue turned her damaged machine to face the enemy.
「Nice to meet you. Fairy Blue. It’s an honor to finally meet you.」
The enemy spoke through a private communication channel.
「Vasa!」
Blue recognized him. Vasa, an A-class Development Engineer who had willingly joined the Stones.
「Likewise, it’s surprising to see the key figure of the operation to show up in person.」
「Hmm. So it’s well known that I can seize control of the Fortress Area.」
It seemed the enemy wanted to talk. This was unexpected for Blue, she had thought Vasa had no interest in conversing with enemy soldiers.
「Now then, I see your Silhouette is part of the Lanius series. A custom model just for you. A gift from Asia’s Knight, perhaps?」
A chill ran down her spine. While the Canary was not a mass-produced Silhouette, very few knew the particulars. Moreover, the fact that it was part of the ‘Lanius series’ was classified information. Vasa must have gathered pieces of information and inferred the rest, which meant the enemy’s target was…
Kou. The EX-class Development Engineer.
The greatest enemy with the worst objective had appeared before Blue.
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