"We need to strengthen our aerial patrols and put everyone on full alert. We can't let the Earth Alliance Forces catch us off guard with a surprise attack."
Looking at the map, Felix's expression grew somewhat grave. His voice was low and subdued as he spoke. Andrew agreed, giving a quiet "Mm."
"Mm!"
After a moment, Andrew offered his guess.
"The Earth Alliance Forces have already been caught off guard twice by the communication and radar interference caused by the Neutron Jammers. I think they've probably found a way to counter it before launching another attack.
"When that happens, we'll lose a lot of our advantage."
"That's a reasonable guess."
Felix nodded in agreement.
He then carefully examined the information on the map before him and made some new deployment arrangements.
Once he had finished adjusting the deployment, he turned to Andrew and asked,
"What do you think of this?"
"It looks good."
Andrew nodded in approval.
Just as he finished speaking, a soldier appeared at the doorway and called out,
"Report!"
"Come in!"
Felix looked up toward the door.
The soldier entered the room and saluted Felix and Andrew, then reported to Felix.
"Captain, the Ministry of Defense is calling!"
"Read it!"
Felix gave a one-word order and continued studying the map. The soldier raised the virtual display in his hands and read aloud the message shown on the screen.
"Based on the information provided by your unit, the Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the Supreme Council has approved the request!
"Your unit will receive reinforcements and a new batch of supplies!
"The reinforcements and supplies are expected to arrive around March 15!
"Your unit is to hold Victoria Spaceport at all costs until the reinforcements and new supplies arrive!
"PLANT Ministry of Defense. End!"
"Send a reply to the Ministry of Defense!"
After hearing the entire message, Felix issued the order without turning around. The soldier acknowledged it, saluted, lowered the virtual display, and turned to leave the room.
Felix lowered his head to glance at the message on the virtual screen, then turned to Andrew with a faint smile.
"Captain Waltfeld, do you think we can hold out until the reinforcements and supplies arrive?"
"If the Earth Alliance Forces don't attack too frequently, we may be able to manage it. But if their attacks are relentless, it'll be difficult to hold Victoria Spaceport."
Andrew turned to Felix and continued,
"Even with an elite MS pilot like you on our side, it would be difficult to turn the tide of a high-intensity war. After all, there are situations that even a powerful MS pilot can't reverse.
"Continuous, high-intensity combat will steadily increase our losses. Once we run out of troops, no one will be able to save us."
"Then we'll just have to take things as they come. Let's hope the Earth Alliance Forces don't attack too often."
A few traces of worry crossed Felix's face, and his words carried a hint of a prayer. When he finished, he let out a deep sigh inwardly.
March 11, 3:00 p.m.
Felix and Andrew were discussing matters in the command center when an urgent alarm blared!
At the sound of the alarm, a soldier hurried into the room and reported the situation to them.
"Captain, the Earth Alliance Forces are attacking!"
"Understood!"
Felix turned to Andrew and said,
"The Earth Alliance's air forces will definitely arrive before their ground forces! I'll lead the MS squadron to intercept them and keep them from reaching our defensive positions.
"That'll buy you time to stop the Earth Alliance Forces' ground forces more effectively."
Andrew considered this for a moment, then disagreed.
"I think there's a good chance the Earth Alliance Forces will advance with their air and ground forces working together. It may not happen the way you imagine.
"They know that if they commit to an operation like this, they risk losing both forces. An integrated advance is more likely."
Hearing this, Felix thought it over, then nodded in agreement.
"You make a good point."
He paused, then continued,
"Even so, we should move out first and hit them hard at the front. We can weaken the Earth Alliance Forces and make it easier to defend Victoria Spaceport."
"You're right."
Andrew nodded.
After their discussion, Felix and Andrew left the room.
Inside the Temporary Hangar where the MS units were stationed at the spaceport,
Felix sat in the cockpit of the White Ginn. He powered it up, opened the comms, and gave his orders.
"We'll split into three groups for this operation. One group will remain on the ground as a reserve force, ready to rotate in if necessary. They'll also be prepared to support the battlefield in other directions.
"One group will work with the ground forces to establish Victoria Spaceport's final line of defense.
"The remaining forces will sortie and intercept the enemy from multiple directions."
After giving the order, Felix began dividing the troops into groups. Once the assignments were complete, he piloted the White Ginn into the air with the assistance of the Guul.
After hovering briefly, he led a small unit north. The troops who didn't follow Felix headed in other directions according to their assignments to engage the enemy.
They had flown only a little over twenty kilometers when the urgent warning alarm sounded beside them. The screen magnified the situation ahead, revealing more than a hundred missiles hurtling toward them.
The missiles were flying fast and steadily.
"Looks like they've abandoned radar guidance for these missiles and switched to the less accurate inertial guidance."
As Felix watched the missiles, he analyzed the situation inwardly. His fingers tightened on the trigger, and he opened fire.
The White Ginn raised the Heavy Assault Machine Gun and fired one round after another.
In a matter of moments, the magazine was empty.
Dozens of bullets streaked through the air and struck the missiles ahead with pinpoint accuracy. A chain of explosions erupted in front of them, the flashes of fire forming an almost solid wall.
As Felix opened fire, the Ginns accompanying him did the same.
Their bullets took out all the remaining missiles.
With the missiles dealt with, Felix and the others continued their advance.
They had flown a little over thirty kilometers when another wave of missiles appeared. These missiles were clearly different from the previous ones. They were aimed at Felix and his unit, not Victoria Spaceport.
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