Chapter 52

As we flew slowly in sync with the progress of the ground forces, the area with the energy plant gradually came into view.

"This is the air force. We have spotted the enemy air force. We are about to engage."

The vanguard air force seemed to have made contact with the enemy air force immediately.

"It looks like it's started. Alright. From the main force to the ground support units, please attach a few units to each ground force."

"This is headquarters. Don't forget to report during the operation!"

With the air force's battle as the starting point, the earl gave us, the ground support units, our instructions.

And from headquarters, a warning came from the earl's son.

By the way, to avoid confusion between the main force and headquarters, let me explain the command structure here.

Main force: The ground force that serves as the overall command center, where the earl is.

Headquarters: The place where the earl's son is, which is the initial landing point. It is also the headquarters for the ground support units.

Ground force: The facility recapture force, the key to this operation.

Air force: The enemy air power elimination force, where Rosweisse and Arthur are.

Ground support units: The support for the facility recapture force, which is my unit.

By the way, there were few mercenaries who volunteered for the ground support units, and even including the earl's private army, there were only 35 of us.

The reason for this was the prior information that "the enemy will deploy a large number of air forces to attack the ground forces."

In fact, there were quite a few aircraft responses on the radar.

The key ground force, including the main force, consisted of 9 units, and each unit was assigned 4 aircraft. However, due to the number, Bernard, Molly, and I were assigned to the 8th Hotel (H) Company.

The leader was assigned to Bernard based on seniority, and I proceeded while keeping an eye on the radar.

The information I gathered during the time I couldn't return to the ship due to the DQNs turned out to be quite useful.

Things like the old hideout of the thieves' guild, the cave with drinkable groundwater, and the places where terrorists might hide.

We used a method of firing beams near those places to flush out the hidden terrorists.

Fortunately, there were no enemy ground support units on the Hotel Company's advance route, and only occasionally did hidden tank units appear. We dealt with them easily by blowing them up with Molly's drop bombs or turning them into beehives with Bernard's beam spray.

By the way, the air force was doing quite a show.

According to reports, they even brought out bombers, and quite large ones at that, and five of them.

However, they were quickly shot down by the 'Black Demon' and Arthur.

Arthur's ship, with its white base and silver trim, must have looked quite impressive against the black and white contrast.

Others, like Rosweisse and the middle-school syndrome Levin, and the 'Scarlet Goddess,' were said to leave a trail of explosions in their wake, just like the old Noswail.

Thanks to them, there were almost no enemy air forces targeting the ground forces.

Thank goodness.

Anyway, we and the Hotel Company were steadily approaching the energy plant.

However, along the way, there was the large fort, also known as 'Names Fortress,' which, according to the locals, was built during the planet's war at the time of the establishment of the Nekirelma Star Kingdom.

It was a circular structure, 30 meters high and 80 meters wide, and was said to be impervious even to 10-ton bombs, with a reflective surface that deflected beams.

Currently, it is off-limits as a former military facility.

Naturally, the terrorists were using it as a fort.

"Gunfire from Names Fortress! Is that a beam gatling? Using antiques, huh!"

"That place, there was a rumor that soldier ghosts appear... I wonder if they'll suppress it for us?"

While the ground forces were grumbling, a call came from the Hotel Company's leader.

"This is Hotel Leader! Intense attack from Names Fortress! We need support!"

"Understood. Please report to headquarters."

"Got it! Hurry up! We can't advance like this!"

After the conversation with the ground forces ended, Bernard spoke to us on the internal line.

"Understood, but what do we do?"

"Should I drop my bombs?"

"It's a waste of ammo. Hold off."

By the way, the bombs Molly was carrying were 500 kg, free-fall type, but they probably wouldn't be effective.

So, how do we silence that fort?

It's probably not impossible with our current equipment, but it's a risky move.

Still, it's better than doing nothing.

"Then, can the two of you draw the attention of the gatlings at the gun ports?"

"What are you planning?"

"Target practice, I guess. It's a gamble."

Hearing that, Bernard and Molly flew around the front of Names Fortress at a considerable speed, from right to left and left to right.

Of course, there were attacks from the other side, but they dodged them gracefully.

When their attention was focused on the two of them, I adjusted the throwing nuts to enter the gun ports from a distance of about 2 km, and fired two shots just as they passed by.

And just in time, after they passed, the throwing nuts flew into the gun ports, and a loud explosion echoed.

The fort probably wouldn't be damaged, but the beam gatlings and the people operating them inside wouldn't be in good shape.

Sure enough, the gunfire from Names Fortress stopped.

I'll ask the ground forces to suppress it for now.

"Suppress it while you can. We don't know when they'll come back."

"Understood! We'll move around to the back of the fort and suppress it!"

The Hotel Company quickly approached the fort.

Suppressing the inside is their job.

Oh, I need to report this to headquarters.

"Headquarters, this is the ground support unit attached to the Hotel Company. Names Fortress is now silent. The Hotel Company is suppressing the inside."

"Understood. Good job silencing it. If suppression is difficult, we'll send nearby units."

"Please check with the Hotel Company directly. I can't make that judgment."

"Understood. Keep it up."

That completes the report. Now we just wait for the suppression.

By the way, the people responding at headquarters are the communication soldiers.

Well, it would be impossible for the earl's son to handle communication duties.

Just as I thought I could relax a bit, a loud communication came from Molly.

"You did it! You're queen-class in ship combat!"

"Thank you..."

It's nice to be recognized, but I'm not good with Molly.

"You really have good skills. I'll have to treat you to a drink to celebrate this achievement."

Bernard was grinning and already planning to take me out.

The victory party after surviving is going to be a drag.

◇Random enemy radio communications◇

"Damn! All the bombers are down! They're all gone!"

"I know 'Red' and 'Black,' but I don't know 'Yellow-Green,' 'White,' and 'Blue'?"

"Did you know? 'Yellow-Green' is also called 'Feather Hood.' It has that mark."

"What are the hidden tank units doing?!"

"It seems they're not responding no matter how many times we call."

"Alright! Confirmed destruction of enemy tank! Go, go!"

"This Vulcan isn't hitting! What's going on?!"

"Big trouble! Names Fortress has fallen!"

"Damn! Are reinforcements from the homeland still not here?! Is the upper echelon trying to exhaust me?!"

"Shit! 'Black' is on my tail, ugh!"

"This is the plant team! Enemy ground forces are approaching! Send us escort units quickly!"

"Don't be ridiculous! I'm struggling to escape from 'White'!"

"Did you hear? 'Red' is a woman!"

"Is she beautiful? Is she beautiful?!"

"Are you kidding? What good does that do?!"

"Watch out! 'Yellow-Green Feather Hood' is flying right above us!"

"Got it? In situations like this, you need to stay calm and count."

"Please! Someone get rid of that 'Blue Hornet'!"

"After this operation, I'm going to propose to her!"

"If I had known, I would have drunk my secret whiskey..."

"I didn't want to come, even if it was a mission..."

◇Excerpt ends◇

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