As the sensation of free fall rose within him, the screen inside the Black Astray's cockpit showed a sky thick with dark clouds, as though even the heavens were willing to serve as the backdrop for the battle about to begin.
Xiao Ran lightly tapped the thrusters with both feet. With a slight movement to either side, the Destiny-00 pack behind the Black Astray swung horizontally, allowing the Black Astray to hover in midair.
The screen showed more than a dozen large UNION Transport Aircraft surrounding the Black Astray. Each Shuttlecraft released Flag units one after another. The Flags fell freely the moment they left the transports, only activating their thrusters and flying forward once they had reached a safe distance. Before long, every mecha had been deployed. The Shuttlecraft formation pulled up, circled once at high altitude, then headed off in another direction.
Xiao Ran looked at the assembled MS Unit. After taking out the encrypted communicator he always carried and sending a message, he piloted the Black Astray into the formation and began rapidly advancing toward the designated target.
The screen suddenly lit up, and a man with the rank of brigadier general appeared in the Black Astray's communications display. "General Xiao Ran, I am Brigadier General Mok, commander of the Fourth Base in the Japanese Special Economic Zone and the person responsible for the encirclement of the Second Base in this operation. Following the orders of the President and the highest authority of the Ministry of Defense, I am transferring Command Authority to you."
Brigadier General Mok saluted Xiao Ran and said, "Please issue your orders."
Xiao Ran looked at the man on the screen, who was at least ten years older than him and wore complete obedience to orders across his face. Xiao Ran was momentarily