Red lines were crossing over the thick electronic map in the Strategy and Tactics Room of the Arsenos Command Headquarters.
The Earth Federation's encirclement centered on the Nemesis Colony. And within it, the response signals of allied aircraft were gradually disappearing.
"...We cannot simply hand over Nemesis like this."
The old general, a lieutenant general, spoke with a grim face. At his words, another commander sitting to his right chimed in.
"That's right. If it falls into their hands again... it will become a headache."
"...So, what do you propose?"
The silent general raised his head.
"Optimism is meaningless in this situation. There is only one thing we can do now."
He took out a terminal and entered the authentication code. Simultaneously, a red circle lit up on the holographic map.
"We will... use that."
For a moment, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"...Surely not."
"Fire Fall."
"That's... madness. Not only our forces but also civilians will all be caught up in it!"
"Even so, we cannot hand it over to those Earth Federation bastards again!"
"Damn it! At the very least, we shouldn't touch the civilians! What sin have they committed?!"
"Do you think there can be victory without sacrifice?"
He said resolutely.
"There is no choice. Rather than handing over Nemesis, it's better to burn it down with them. And if we can annihilate the surviving enemy fleet, there's nothing better than that."
***
[Enemy detected. 12 o'clock direction!]
A red signal flashed and blinked on the cockpit screen. One hour had passed since the start of the Nemesis Recapture Operation. So far, 37 enemy aircraft destroyed.
There were still 13 aircraft left until the target of 50 kills. However, inside the Requiem, overheating alarms were already blaring.
[Lieutenant, the Requiem's heat has exceeded dangerous levels. It is advisable to cool down at the rear.]
Elena's voice was transmitted through the bridge. With an expressionless face, I responded briefly.
"Understood."
There wasn't much energy left either. It would be better to take a break here and then redeploy.
The cockpit's internal thermometer blinked red, and the system switched to semi-forced cooling mode. Thanks to the effect of the special nano-coating, the Requiem's armor slowly began to change from black to gray.
I pulled the control stick, turning the aircraft. As I headed towards the rear where Armeo was located, the battlefield situation came into view.
The tide of victory had already turned. All pilots of the 7th Mobile Squadron were also alive.
[Rookie! You saved my life! Thanks!]
Vasquez's familiar voice flowed through the comms.
"Then, buy me something delicious later, okay?"
[When we return to Earth, that is. I know a pretty good place, so look forward to it.]
Before he could finish speaking, the communication channel was overridden.
It was Elena.
[Stop the chatter. Initiate docking procedures immediately, Lieutenant.]
"Yes, Major-nim. I'm returning now."
Armeo's hangar came into view. As the Requiem's automatic docking system activated, the aircraft landed smoothly.
As the cockpit hatch opened, maintenance personnel quickly approached. Among them, a young mechanic who ran up first greeted me with a bright face.
"Lieutenant Jin-nim! You're truly amazing!"
A name tag reading 'Rick McDowell' was attached to his chest.
"37 kills... To achieve such a score in a single day... The rumor that you beat Jack Spencer wasn't just a rumor after all!"
I let out a small laugh. This kind of reaction was already tiresome.
"How's the aircraft's condition?"
"Ah, yes! It's overheated, but the cooling system is fine. It should be fully normalized in about 30 minutes."
I nodded lightly.
"Good. I'll go rest for a bit in the meantime."
Rick's eyes widened in surprise.
"Are you going out again?"
"Yeah, it's not over yet."
"B-but... it seems like victory is already ours.... There's no need to go out and risk yourself."
There was no need to hear him out. I had plenty of stamina left, and most of all... I was bored.
I walked down the corridor towards the lounge. Several pilots had already arrived.
Among them, a familiar voice called out to me.
"Honey~! Over here!"
It was Karla. She had taken off her flight suit and was casually wearing a T-shirt over her military uniform. Through the deep V-neck of her top, her ample cleavage was naturally revealed.
'...There's about 30 minutes left. Should I drag her somewhere quiet and have a quick round?'
As I approached, Karla naturally snuggled close beside me. As if by habit, she leaned in, her arm almost touching mine.
"You were really amazing, honey. 37 kills... Tonight, I'll celebrate properly with you."
She whispered softly into my ear.
"How about it? My bedroom... or anywhere you want, anytime?"
"Sounds good. But... I have to go out again in 30 minutes."
Karla's lips pouted slightly.
"Aw~ It seems like it's all over already. Are you going out again?"
I chuckled softly.
"There are still enemies left, you know."
"Hmph, well, you'll do what you want. More importantly, should we go somewhere quiet?"
Taking Karla, who was speaking with a sly smile, I left the lounge and took her to my room.
***
"H-hic... My pussy's gonna break...♡"
Karla's sobs echoed on the bed. Her body disheveled, her legs trembling, she was literally a completely broken female.
Her breasts were flushed red, and semen dripped between her thighs. I placed my hand back on her reddened, parted vulva.
"Still 10 more minutes left, aren't there?"
At that moment, an alarm began to blare inside the ship.
- Wiiing! Wiiing!
[Emergency! Enemy fleet is fully withdrawing from Nemesis's rear! All pilots, report to the hangar immediately. Repeat.]
I stopped my hand. Karla looked up at me with a dazed expression, gasping for breath.
"A sudden retreat. Are they trying to save even their remaining forces?"
I stood up. As I headed to the shower room, I gave Karla's butt a final pat.
-Smack!
She let out a faint moan and trembled.
"You're... really... like a madman..."
I didn't answer.
After a quick shower, I came out into the corridor. The ship's broadcast continued to repeat.
[Colonial forces are in full retreat. Reason currently unknown. Information is being analyzed.]
Upon arriving at the hangar, most of the pilots had already gathered.
Captain Vasquez, Gareth, Mina, Ron... The Captain and Elena had also already arrived on site.
"This is the current situation."
The Captain said briefly.
"The enemy fleet is suddenly withdrawing from the battlefield. And an order has come down from command. Pursue and annihilate the retreating enemy fleet."
Vasquez frowned.
"Isn't it a trap? It's too fast a retreat."
"That possibility has also been analyzed."
Elena stepped forward.
"As a result of intercepting Colonial forces' internal communications, it appears they decided to withdraw for 'minimal loss.' As currently understood, forces inside the Nemesis Colony are also rapidly evacuating."
After Elena finished speaking, a heavy silence descended upon the space.
"This is unsettling..."
Vasquez muttered, frowning, and Mina, who was beside him, nodded silently.
The Captain cut off their unease with a single stroke.
"7th Mobile Squadron, launch immediately."
A short, decisive order.
"The objective is the complete annihilation of the retreating enemy fleet. Leave no one escaping."
-KWAANG!
The Requiem burst out of the hangar.
As the boosters fired, the aircraft, having exited the ship, accelerated, sliding into the darkness of space. I adjusted the HUD and turned the nose of the aircraft towards the Nemesis Colony.
Amidst the starlight, red heat signatures disappeared as they left the battlefield. The retreating enemy aircraft were being mercilessly torn apart by our pursuit force.
They did attempt to counterattack. However, the tide of battle had already turned. I quietly counted the numbers as I dealt with the fleeing enemies one by one.
"...48, 49... 50."
The target count on the top of the HUD turned green. 50 aircraft destroyed. It was a perfectly fitting conclusion.
Just as I was thinking of heading back, the communication channel opened.
[This is Armeo. New orders have arrived from command.]
[7th Mobile Squadron, cooperate with the 3rd Mobile Squadron to enter the Nemesis Colony and commence the occupation operation.]
[Annihilate remaining Colonial forces inside the Nemesis Colony.]
Reigniting the Requiem's boosters, I turned the aircraft towards the colony's exterior.
Colony internal entry zone.
Dozens of allied aircraft were entering one by one along their trajectories. Following them, the Requiem passed through the entry passage.
The internal entry route was a pre-designated large gateway. Its structure was designed to allow multiple aircraft to approach simultaneously. As the Requiem entered the colony, the sensor screen lit up.
As Nemesis's internal atmosphere was exposed, the Requiem automatically switched to atmospheric flight mode.
-Kwang, Kwang, Kwaang...
Landing sounds echoed as the aircraft settled inside the colony.
At the control center, mission assignments for each aircraft had already begun.
[7th Mobile Squadron, disperse and enter. Each aircraft, proceed to your assigned sector and commence sweep operations.]
Coordinates were projected onto the HUD.
Urban areas, residential zones, industrial complexes... And my sector was the military district.
I lowered my altitude and slowly entered.
Several allied aircraft passed through the urban area. Their demeanor was less about tension and more about a certain carelessness.
"Entering."
I said, as if whispering. The Requiem's sensors turned orange, and it descended close to the ground.
The military district was wide and quiet. There were no traces of bombing, no signs of battle. Instead, people emerged.
Arsenos soldiers who had laid down their arms.
[This is Captain Vasquez. The Colonial forces are surrendering voluntarily.]
[It's similar here. No resistance.]
Everyone was experiencing the same situation. But I didn't let my guard down.
'Something's strange.'
My senses were reacting to something deep underground.
'What is it?'
Then, Gareth's voice came through the communication channel.
[Uh, this is strange. There are unidentified structures.]
[What is this...?]
This time, Mina's voice was heard. Her tone was tinged with bewilderment.
[I'm picking up a strange signal. Like an energy wave... on a large scale...]
I extended the Requiem's scanner to its maximum. Rapid energy fluctuations were detected from the central part of the colony and facilities in the northern section.
"What is it?"
At that moment, an urgent voice flowed through the communication channel.
[All aircraft, withdraw immediately! Repeat. Withdraw from the colony immediately!]
It was Elena's voice. Her voice was trembling, unlike usual.
As soon as I received the communication, a warning appeared on the Requiem's detection system.
[Warning: Large-scale energy concentration detected]
[Multiple unstable nuclear reaction signals detected]
[Immediate evacuation recommended]
"What? No way...."
The moment that thought flashed through my mind, red flames erupted from various parts of the Nemesis Colony. The internal structures slowly began to crack.
"Damn it!"
I sharply turned the Requiem towards the exterior. The aircraft of the 7th Mobile Squadron were exiting the colony amidst the chaos.
[Those crazy bastards... Are they burning even the civilians?!]
Lionel Vasquez's scream tore through the comms. Simultaneously, a massive energy mass in the central part, captured by the Requiem's external camera, was erupting from beneath the ground.
[Get out quickly!]
Someone's shout.
The world flashed white so quickly that the cockpit sensors couldn't keep up.
-KWAaaaaaaaaaang!!!
A shock as if my consciousness was being torn apart, and the armor encasing the aircraft screamed, and the screen was submerged in a blinding white flash.
It felt as if every single cell was screaming and scattering into the air.