Successful Ejection

Inside the cockpit of the Aerial Strike.

"Tap~ tap~."

The pilot's left hand rapidly flicked the buttons on the control console, while his right hand gripped the throttle and pulled it backward.

"Vrrr--!"

The roar of the engines on its back reached the cockpit through the vibrations.

The Panoramic screen displayed the Space Sector where humanity and the Covenant were engaged in battle, along with the densely packed Covenant Carrier-based aircraft marked in red by the onboard computer.

"Warning, warning. Incoming from the left."

At the same time, the onboard computer issued an alert, informing the pilot that there was a threat to the left side of the unit.

Hearing this, the pilot controlled the unit to halt abruptly, then made it rise almost at a right angle.

At that moment, the holographic window to the pilot's right displayed the number 11g, which then slowly began to fall.

Even so, the pilot remained silent, his hands continuing to operate the unit as usual.

Whoosh--! (x6)

In the instant after it ascended, six Plasma Missiles from a CCS-class Cruiser streaked past beneath the Panoramic screen, right where the unit had just been.

Boom--! (x6)

Not only did the six Plasma Missiles fail to hit the Aerial Strike, they also completely destroyed a group of their own carrier-based aircraft.

"Second Lieutenant..." Just then, the voice of the communications officer came from the cockpit:

"The captain wants you to clear out the carrier-based aircraft in the marked area. If the situation permits, try to enter the enemy warship and assist the ground troops in eliminating the enemy soldiers first."

As the communications officer spoke, the pilot, who held the rank of second lieutenant, also spotted the area marked on the Panoramic screen.

It was the vicinity of the hangar bay of a still-powered