Chapter 202
Furthermore, the proposal to use high-energy explosives is not impossible, but unnecessary, and the Committee of Forty does not agree with it.
Based on the need to keep the war under control in a more civilized manner, the lack of precision, and the humanitarian spirit of not involving civilians in the war, the Committee of Forty rejected the request to stuff the payload of "Chariot of Apollo" with explosives.
It should be noted that European Britannia also possesses rockets capable of launching satellites into space, and its scientific and technological advancements are rapid.
The EU does have a significant technological advantage in this area, but ultimately it cannot make a decisive statement; it can only annoy and intimidate people.
This practice of launching massive rockets at each other beyond visual range, ignoring the 'common people,' is like opening Pandora's box. Once this happens, there will be no safe haven for the world, which is something the politicians don't want to see.
It's better to be more civilized.
Of course, if they possessed a super weapon capable of destroying an entire city with a single large rocket carrying a warhead, possessing the power to deliver a decisive blow, they would not hesitate to drop such a weapon on every major city in Britannia.
What? Civilization and humanitarianism? I don't know.
"The cover and coordination between friendly forces on the eastern and southern fronts will take some time to take effect. Our inertial flight will continue for a while, so everyone can relax for now. Although I don't know if you like the view of the starry sky. Access has been unlocked and issued."
Only after calming her turbulent emotions did Layla begin to examine the world as seen from a near-Earth orbit hundreds of thousands of meters above the ground.
And another novel sensation for her was the feeling of weightlessness, of her body feeling light and airy.
"What a wonderful feeling."
Grasping the floating, foldable projection tactical terminal, Layla took a moment to tap her headset and said, "Anna, if you have the chance, I think you can give it a try too."
Looking down at the Earth, the brightly lit cities at night resembled hubs, radiating outwards from millions of watts of electricity.
Team Hyuga, the spiky-haired 'delinquent elder brother' Ryo Sayama, stretched his limbs and commented, "Not bad as a memory before death."
"How wonderful it would be if all those inhabited places were destroyed."
With a strange smile on his face, Yukiya Naruse and uttered some rather terrorist-like words in the team channel.
"What a nice view."
As the only woman among the troublesome trio, Ayano Kosaka these sentiments.
Using her commander privileges, Layla overheard many of the team members' discussions and sighs, but one person remained silent.
"Akid".
Layla asked, "Um, this must be your first time in space, right? How was it?"
"..."
First came silence.
"Commander, why are you getting involved with the Wyvern Team?"
A rhetorical question that is irrelevant to the question.
Akid said, "Even if you feel bad and are unwilling to sit back and enjoy the benefits in White Wolf City, the safety of the Azure Dragon Team is what the commander should be concerned about. It's not about acting on impulse, Commander. Your choice this time is not rational."
Is it irrational...?
A complex emotion flashed in Layla's eyes, and she sighed softly.
When she opened her eyes again, the blonde girl's gaze became resolute.
"As the commander of W-ZERO Force and a key participant in this operation, I want to do my part to ensure everyone's safe return. Otherwise, I would be just like Arnold. I don't think it's a stupid thing to do."
She spoke slowly, but her tone was firm and resolute.
"You're still stuck in your own mindset."
Akid said, "Please don't regret it, Commander."
No regrets.
After the debate, Layla was about to continue reviewing the operational objectives when she announced, "Third engine igniting. Apollo 001 landing module separation countdown: 1 minute 30 seconds. Layla, please prepare."
Anna's voice came through the earphones.
"Stay close to me during combat."
Akid's tone remained as detached, direct, and reliable as ever.
Layla announced loudly, "Everyone, prepare to separate."
Rumble, rumble, rumble—!!!
The earth trembled as if a drumhead had been struck.
Each clap of thunder was like a heavy hammer blow to the soul.
The air was thick with the stench of blood and unease.
It was as if this was a salute to Layla from the Eastern Europe battlefield.
The crossroads of offense and defense between the Baltic states under Britannia's occupation and the Belarus theater under EU control—[Sector 23D] —Daugavpils, Latvia.
This is a world completely different from Paris and the Autonomous State of Germany where the White Wolf City is located.
Huff... huff...
After disembarking from the landing capsule, Leila deployed her KMF mech and used its control wings to glide at reduced speed. Taking advantage of the dim light before dawn, the cover of the nighttime artillery battle between the EU coalition forces and the Britannian Army, and the critical gap when the troops and horses in the rear were exhausted, Layla operated her command-type special aircraft to make an air landing.
Interference foil, jamming bombs, and new jammers have all been released or activated.
During her descent, she used the enhanced composite sensors and reality detectors of the Alexander 02 Command Type to witness the horrific scene of war engulfing everything.
Looking down, all that can be seen is smoke and ruins.
Daugavpils, Latvia's second-largest city with an area of 725 square kilometers and a pre-war population of 150,000, is now almost devoid of any intact buildings.
Moreover, the EU forces seem to have gained a slight advantage, having captured the City Center.
"Commander, you have reached the emergency landing altitude."
Just as the aircraft flew close to the edge of the city and into the forest, Akid's voice brought Layla back to her senses.
"Oh... okay..."
No matter how good her simulation scores are, Layla's skill and hand-eye coordination in Knightmare are not outstanding.
The control wing module was removed, and the mecha landed with a thud. It rolled several times in beast form to absorb the impact. The huge impact caused Layla to fall forward first and then backward, but the safety restraints held her firmly in place with a creak.
"Ahem... Everyone, check your equipment and report the situation. All aircraft, report your positions and assemble here."
The inertia made Layla feel as if a huge rock was pressing on her chest, and she coughed a few times.
"Commander."
The first to arrive was Akid's enhanced and modified Alexander Type-01 private jet.
He rushed over as soon as he landed.
How's your squad doing?
Layla asked.
"No casualties. But they are not trustworthy."
Akito makes no secret of his distrust of Ryo Sayama and the other two.
This differs from the original timeline where Layla spent considerable time and effort having numerous heart-to-heart talks with the three, offering comfort and reassurance.
In this timeline, due to the pressure brought by a powerful Third Princess, many events have occurred earlier or in a different form. The expansion of the W-ZERO force has eliminated the problem of manpower shortage, so Layla's attention is naturally diverted.
"Also, Commander, I have a bad feeling. It's going too smoothly, the resistance is negligible... This is the defense zone of the Order of Saint Michael, the order of knights that man belongs to..."
Akid said seriously.
Upon hearing this, Layla hesitated.
Just then, the buzzing of Electromagnetic Assault Rifle broke the silence of the forest.
"Who fired the shot—"
Just as Layla was about to ask a question, Akid tackled her mech to the ground.
"Ryo Sayama, can I understand why you would desert your post?"
"Tch! Who do you think you are! You really think you're our captain?"
Ryo Sayama appeared very excited as he piloted the new mech provided by the W-ZERO unit to attack the commander of the W-ZERO unit.
"Hey, Yukiya, Ayano, hurry up and take them out before the other cowards arrive!"
"Here you are!! Yukiya, hurry up and move too!"
Through the loudspeaker, Ayano Kosaka's voice conveyed a deep yearning for freedom.
They finally escaped from that dilapidated castle. Who needs your redemption now? They took the new mechs and ran! Only a fool would dare to confront Britannia's main regular army head-on.
"Yes, yes."
Even at the furthest distance, Yukiya Naruse still wore his signature eerie smile.
Piloting the sniper-specialized [Alexander], the KMF mech used a large Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle to aim at Akito Hyuga, who was locked in combat with Ryo Sayama, and Commander Layla had just transformed into human form from her command-type mech.
"Goodbye, naive young lady, Commander. How could someone like you possibly understand us?"
With a grin, Yukiya Naruse pressed the button on the control lever.
A shrapnel shell whistled through the dense forest and sizzled as it struck the Electromagnetic Sniper Rifle.
The next instant, a deafening roar!
The intense heat swept over Yukiya Naruse's Alexander, visually resembling a car crashing into it. The entire machine tilted with a bang, and its parts shattered.
"Lucky!!"×2.
Layla looked in the direction of the sound.
Are they from the Wyvern Team?
Wait, a cape?!
"Enemy attack! It's the Britannian Army!!"
197
Chapter 197 You make me look stupid.
"Daugavpils?"
Upon receiving the message, Vera paused for a moment, then smiled and asked, "The W-ZERO Force's Wyvern Team? Is 'Hannibal's Wraith' among them?"
"Nothing has been detected yet; we are investigating. However, Your Highness, it seems there's been internal strife within this airborne EU special forces unit? Three Alexander modified KMF mechs have been detected attacking friendly forces. Out of control? Your Highness, is this the work of the Imperial Foreign Intelligence Bureau?"
I did not issue that order.
Vera raised an eyebrow.
Even if it were necessary to awaken the already turned mole within the W-ZERO unit, they should wait for her instructions.
This hasn't even started yet. The composition of the Wyvern Team's paratroopers hasn't been determined, and the Azure Dragon Team is still waiting for their target to emerge... To act so hastily right after the paratroopers landed is too crude and undoubtedly weakens the element of surprise when the inside agent makes repeated attacks.
Could it be—
"Lord Manfredi, transmit the video feed to me."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
The Grand Master of the Order of Saint Michael, stationed at Daugavpils, responded.
In a flash, the video frame of Manfredi on the all-in-one holographic screen in front of Vera automatically shrank and moved to the side. Then, a split-view live video feed appeared in the center.
There are images from various distances, at different elevations, and both standard and infrared night vision views, respectively:
EU mechs still conducting low-noise glider landings; the Alexander undergoing hard and soft landings; fiery meteors falling as fragments of their landing capsules disintegrate; the pitch-black forests of Eastern Europe before dawn; mech combat flashing with bullets and the silhouettes of dozens of mechs accelerating after hearing noises...
Vera extracts the key.