12 - Sortie x Cancellation

T/N: With the reveal of this chapter, Wis is probably more accurately “Vis” but I’ll just keep this translation because the sounds are too phonetically similar in Japanese. The change in consonant sound could have been intentional, for all I know.

In the hangar assigned to Ratio and the rest of her class, a maintenance vehicle squeals to a stop, its tires burning.

Schola Sanctus Instructors were assigned various authorities, and Maintenance Department Instructors had the authority to use Mixture’s back rooms, in other words, the maintenance shafts.

If you go through those, you can greatly shorten the travel time compared to the normal passages.

Furthermore, if you get on a vehicle that can remove its speed limit with an Instructor’s Authority, you’ll go by in the blink of an eye.

“Grannie!” Ratio yelled.

She leaped off the vehicle and rushed to the Chief as she stood under the feet of a single Stella Corpus unit.

The mechanics in her family were stuck to the machine and working frantically on it.

“She’s beautiful…” the Maintenance Department Instructor said as they stepped off the vehicle and stared up at the Stella Corpus, enraptured.

The rounded armor with a white, glossy coating shines under the lights.

Unlike the training units that emphasized durability and reliability, you would immediately realize this thin and delicate unit was designed to maximize agility and mobility.

Most eye-catching of all is the large, ring-shaped parts attached to various parts of its body and the gauntlets that look like small shields attached to both arms. It excites the imagination to think of what they could be for.

“Granny, sorry for being such a bother to you,” Ratio said, hanging her head apologetically. “But…”

“Oh, quiet, you!” the Chief yelled. “You made the decision, didn’t you? Stick your chest out with pride!”

“Mm,” Ratio said.

With the encouragement of her strict but warm family, Ratio lifted her face.

Her expression was that of a determined warrior, the Chief nodded in satisfaction.

“How’s it looking?” Ratio said.

“We are in the middle of checking each part,” one of the maintenance members said. “We haven’t hooked up the reactor yet, so get on board. Then, we’ll talk.”

“Understood,” Ratio said.

“Hey, Chief!” someone else yelled from above. “Are we really going to do this? Aren’t we going to get a chewing out later?”

It was Rivera.

“If we’re deploying it anyway, the data will be secretly taken by other parties,” the Chief said. “Then, whether you do it now or later, it won’t change! Besides, can you understand how it will actually perform if you’ve only been running the simulations?”

“But then–” Rivera said.

“Just get on with it!” the Chief yelled. “You’re getting fewer side dishes at dinner tonight!”

“Heeey!” Rivera yelled.

The other members smiled in amusement at the exchange.

It was exactly as usual.

Ratio laughed as she went up the ladder on the cage and reached the matrix.

“What about Wis?” Ratio said.

“She’s already ready,” the maintenance team member waiting for her said before she connected their communication lines.

“Wis?” Ratio asked.

[BIG SIS! I’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOOUUU!]

Wis’s shrill voice makes Ratio’s eardrums shake.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do this out of nowhere,” Ratio said.

[I’m fine! If it’s for you, Big Sis, I’ll get all dressed up for you!]

“Thanks,” Ratio said.

[I don’t like the fact that you’re helping some random girl, though,] Wis added.

“Hey, she’s my classmate,” Ratio said.

[Boo,] Wis huffed.

And while the two argued, Ratio jumped into the open matrix and secures herself in the seat.

The pilot suit and its peripheral equipment are made to a universal standard, and she could have boarded with the school’s equipment.

[Ahaa ❤,] Wis moans. [Big Sis is here ❤, Big Sis stole my first time ❤.]

“Fufu,” Ratio chuckled, amused by that and the matrix’s brand-new smell.

As she gently operates the console or the levers,

[Uunn, you’re tickling me ❤,] Wis giggled.

“Sorry, sorry,” Ratio said.

[That’s enough flirting, you shrews,] the Chief said.

“Roger,” Ratio said.

[Boo, I wanted to play with Big Sis more,] Wis said.

[Do it later. Ready to sortie!] the Chief said.

“Matrix, close,” Ratio said.

[Matrix, closing!] Wis said.

The hatch closed, and the waist armor slid back into position.

At the same time, the wall monitor inside it lit up and projected a visual image from the head cameras.

As Ratio puts on her helmet and locks it into place, the same visual feed is projected in her visor, expanding what she can see at once.

[Reactor pressure, normal! Clear anytime!] the maintenance crew said.

“Roger that!” Ratio said. “Well then, reactor, connect!”

[Reactor, connecting!]

A loud roar sounds along with a vibration that Ratio felt in her gut.

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The energy lines are connected to the main power, and a titanic amount of energy runs through the entire body of the humanoid weapon.

“External power supply, release!” Ratio said.

[External power supply, released! Cables retracting!] the maintenance crew said.

The power cables connected to various parts of the aircraft are removed, and winders automatically pull them back.

“Checklist……” Ratio said, reaching out to the console screen.

[All OK!] Wis said, the items scrolling by at high speed before it ended with a floral stamp saying, “Well done.” [Check complete, rea-dy to sor-tie!]

“Geeze, Wis, that’s my job, isn’t it?” Ratio said.

[Eheh, I want to play with you as soon as possible, Big Sis,] Wis said.

“Fufu, thank you,” Ratio said.

Then, she tightens her relaxed expression, opens the communication console, and entered the ID code.

The other party called her before she could even press “Call.”

[Winkrum!?] Aloe yelled.

“Instructor! Ready to sortie!” Wis said.

From an impatient face, Aloe Ira smiles ferociously.

[We’re ready here, too. It’s a direct route from your hangar to the training grounds. Deploy at once.]

“Thank you very much!” Ratio said.

As Rivera and the other maintenance team members clear the area, Rivera gives a thumbs up.

[Leave the hostages to us. I expect results,] Aloe said.

“Roger!” Ratio said.

And with that, the communication was cut.

[Ratio. This is the only one that has been serviced, but take it with you,] the Chief said.

A ping highlight appears in Ratio’s HUD.

Marked was of a beam gun, one Ratio was ordered to test fire.

“I have the globus,” Ratio said.

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[In any case, use this to get the data,] the Chief said. [Besides, this one isn’t that important, so I don’t mind if you break it.]

“If that’s the case,” Ratio said as she took it.

For the time being, this beam gun is also a prototype armament that was made with a lot of effort, but…

[All personnel cleared. Ready to launch at any time,] Rivera said.

“Roger that!” Ratio said.

The status figure in the center of the console is all normal green.

The instruments are also lit up, and the seat comfort is outstanding. The feel of the lever and foot pedals is also wonderful.

“Wis, are you ready?” Ratio said.

[Rea-dy and willing!] Wis said.

“Then, let’s launch!” Ratio said.

[Mm! Launch ❤! Let’s go together Big Sis ❤.]

Her sister fighting with her has put Wis in a great mood.

And Ratio’s fighting spirit is also burning bright.

“Cage release!” Ratio yelled.

[Maintenance cage, released!] Rivera yelled.

The aisle blocking the front of the machine unfolded, and the arms that secured the back of it also retracted.

“Ratio Winklum!” Ratio said.

[Wis!] Wis said.

“‘Virtus Flos’, launching!” they both cried.

[Launching!]

And with that, the slim machine—Virtus Flos gracefully ran off, the maintenance team cheering her on.

On the way, Ratio doesn’t forget to pick up the beam gun on a container, snatching it with natural movement.

Her goal is a transportation corridor for taking units from the hangar to the training ground.

The large bulkhead had already been released, and Virtus Flos jumped through it, the camera eyes lighting up, acquiring detailed data on the corridor, and reflecting it on the matrix’s walls.

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“Boost,” Ratio said.

[Let’s go!] Wis said.

As particles of light spew out of its thrusters, the white giant dashes off.

The transport corridor has plenty of room and has rails laid down for transporting machines while still locked in their cages.

It is almost a straight line to carry heavy objects, and when it’s not, the curves are gentle.

Ratio accelerates as fast as Virtus Flos can go.

[Whoo-oooshh!] Wis squeals happily.

She seems to be delighted to be moving for the first time in so long.

“Wis, brace yourself. We’ll be out soon,” Ratio said.

[I’m fine if I’m with you, Big Sis!]

“Yeah!” Ratio said.

They can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The small dot immediately grew bigger, and Virtus Flos launched into the blue sky with its momentum.

The detailed information in the training area has been updated, and you will soon find the Centurias.

Ratio’s eyes narrowed coldly at the zoomed-in view.

Regina’s tiny body was exposed and defenseless, and a Centuria’s gigantic hand was about to strike her.

Following Ratio’s will, Virtus Flos raised her beam gun.

Targeting lasers shoot out, and while they threaten the enemy Centurias as their sensors pick up, the system calculates range and reduces power output.

Ratio pulls the trigger.

The fired beams do not pose a threat even if they hit.

However, the Centurias made a massive retreat.

Ratio takes advantage of the automatic avoidance programs of the training units to keep the terrorists away from Regina.

The thrusters burst, Ratio swooped down.

She goes down head-first and twists mid-air. She landed right next to Regina’s unit, feet-first, while braking before impact.

To the classmate that had taken off her helmet, mouth smeared with a mess, tears streaming down her face, Ratio calls out:

“Regina, are you okay!?”