The two Goliath APCs suddenly burst out from the middle training zone.
They came crashing through the center of the pyramid-shaped training structure, emerging from the chaos created by their so-called Plan B.
The plan had worked.
The detonation had destroyed the anti-air missile storage, crippled the SAM batteries, and grounded the aircraft stationed throughout the base.
The entire facility was in chaos.
And the two Goliath APCs burst through the middle of it as if they owned the place.
Wales had volunteered to drive one of the APCs.
Anis had taken control of the other.
On Anis's APC, Neon had taken control of the upper weapon system.
The moment she saw the 20mm quad Gatling cannon, her eyes practically sparkled.
The four-barrel cannon could fire armor-piercing rounds against both ground and aerial targets.
To Neon, it was pure ecstasy.
And that wasn't even the best part.
The APC was also equipped with unguided rockets and SAM missiles.
Neon was practically vibrating with excitement.
"This is amazing!"
Meanwhile, Hipper had taken control of the main weapon system on the other Goliath.
The two APCs charged through the base.
BRRRRRRRRT!
Neon's quad 20mm Gatling cannon shredded a group of Rapture droids attempting to block their path.
BOOM!
Hipper fired the main cannon.
Another group of Rapture machines disappeared beneath the impact.
The Goliaths continued their rampage toward the outer perimeter.
Then Behemoth's voice echoed throughout the entire base.
"Every available droid! Find them and get those prisoners back!"
A pause.
"Dead or alive!"
Anis grinned as she pressed harder on the pedals.
"Oh, I think we pissed her off."
Rapi sighed from inside the APC as she helped Ludmilla and the other rescued prisoners stay secure.
Nayuta moved toward the available gunports.
"Then this humble one shall provide additional support."
Several of her clones deployed from the APC, taking positions at the available firing ports.
They immediately began shooting at the approaching Rapture forces.
Nearby, Pepper and Mary continued firing their GIZMO repair beams, helping Alice, Tove, and Neve recover while the APCs raced through the base.
Kashima and Katori tightened their restraints.
The reason was immediately obvious.
Anis was driving like a madwoman.
The Goliath bounced violently over the terrain.
"ANIS!"
Katori grabbed the nearest support.
"Slow down!"
"I am slowing down!"
"You're accelerating!"
"Oh."
Anis pushed the pedal even harder.
Katori's eyes widened.
"That was not what I meant!"
Yuu sighed as she watched the chaos unfolding around her.
"Indeed."
Yuuki was in the other APC with Wales.
He glanced toward the swarm of Rapture machines appearing on their radar.
"Yes. That's the plan."
He looked toward Wales, who continued driving through the chaos.
"We blew up her Mother Whale, destroyed her transport, and now we're causing chaos in her forward base."
Yuuki smiled faintly.
"We really did piss her off good."
Wales kept her eyes on the road.
"I believe that was the objective, Commander."
Vestal remained with the rescued Shipgirls, continuing to monitor their condition.
Then—
Grimm silently indicated the radar display from above.
The radar display updated.
A massive number of contacts were converging on their position.
"Rapture droids, drones, and combat machines are converging on both APCs."
Yuuki looked at the display.
The contacts were multiplying rapidly.
Then Jarvis spoke.
"Sir, the cruise missiles are entering the perimeter."
Yuuki's expression immediately changed.
He reached for the comms.
"Hana!"
His voice came through the fleet channel.
Yorktown immediately responded.
"Commander?"
Yuuki looked toward the approaching missile signatures.
"We're going to need some help."
===============
Inside the APC, Hipper directed fire toward the Rapture forces chasing them.
BOOM!
The main 20mm cannon fired, blasting another group of Rapture droids apart.
Another APC soon pulled alongside them.
Yuu was inside.
She looked toward Yuuki.
"Looks like they brought everything they have."
Before Yuuki could respond, Yorktown's voice came through the communications channel.
"Hellstorm cruise missiles arriving!"
Yuuki looked upward.
High above the battlefield, three Barracuda stealth bomber dispatched from the Daedalus emerged from the clouds.
Its weapons bay opened.
Inside were the Hellstorm cruise missiles.
With the base's air defenses destroyed, the bomber had a clear path.
The first Hellstorm missile detached.
WHOOSH!
It accelerated toward the island at tremendous speed.
As it descended, its outer casing suddenly split apart.
The missile's internal payload deployed.
Six smaller missiles were released from the carrier weapon, each capable of independently acquiring a target.
More Hellstorm missiles followed.
One after another, dozens of cruise missiles appeared high above the battlefield, descending from the heavens toward the converging Rapture forces.
Yorktown immediately brought the weapons system online.
"Ladies, I'm passing manual control to you."
Authorization transferred across the fleet network.
Kaga's eyes narrowed as the targeting interface appeared before her.
"I have control."
She locked onto the first Hellstorm missile.
"Six targets."
The carrier missile descended rapidly toward the battlefield.
At the last possible moment, its payload detached.
Six miniature missiles immediately changed direction.
Each one locked onto a different Rapture vehicle.
Kaga guided their trajectories with precision.
"Fire."
The six missiles accelerated.
BOOM!
BOOM!
BOOM!
One after another, the Rapture machines vanished beneath explosions.
The Hellstorm barrage continued descending. The Rapture forces surrounding the fleeing Goliath APCs found themselves under attack from above.
One after another, the targets erupted.
But the Hellstorm missile itself continued descending.
Kaga redirected it toward another vehicle pursuing Yuuki.
BOOM!
The vehicle disappeared beneath the explosion.
Akagi immediately took control of another missile.
"Stay away from Shikikan-sama!"
Her Hellstorm missile descended toward the battlefield.
The casing opened.
Six miniature missiles separated and rapidly curved toward six different targets.
BOOM!
Six Rapture units were destroyed almost simultaneously.
The main missile then slammed directly into another pursuing vehicle.
KRAKOOM!
Akagi smiled.
"Good."
More Hellstorms descended.
Kaguya took control of one.
Yorktown took another.
Enterprise followed.
The three Shipgirls coordinated their targeting, each guiding the missiles toward different groups of Rapture forces.
"Left flank," Enterprise called.
"Already targeted," Yorktown replied.
Kaguya laughed softly.
"Then this one shall take the center."
Another Hellstorm split apart.
Dozens of miniature missiles streaked across the sky like falling stars.
The battlefield erupted beneath them.
Vehicles were torn apart.
Rapture droids were scattered.
Pursuing forces vanished beneath successive explosions.
Inside the APC, Yuuki glanced upward through the armored viewport.
"Now that's some support."
Yuu looked toward the barrage.
"Hana-chan really knows how to use those."
Yuuki smiled.
"That's why she's my acting commander on Daedalus."
Yorktown heard him through the comms.
She smiled.
"Just keep moving, Commander."
"Leave the rest to us."
More Hellstorms descended from the heavens.
And behind the fleeing APCs, the battlefield became a storm of fire and steel.
Wales kept both hands firmly on the APC's controls as the vehicle raced across the battered road.
She glanced through the rear viewport.
Her sisters were holding onto whatever they could find as the APC bounced violently over the terrain.
"Everyone holding on?"
Anson immediately answered.
"Not really!"
Howe grabbed her before another sharp turn sent her sideways.
"Anson, hold still."
"I am holding still!"
"You're bouncing around."
"Because Wales is driving like a maniac!"
Wales frowned.
"I'm driving perfectly fine."
York looked toward her.
"Wales..."
"Yes?"
"Couldst thou perhaps slow down?"
"No. Unless we want to die!"
York sighed.
Above them, Hipper manned the APC's main 20mm quad guns.
She rotated the turret toward an approaching Rapture unit.
"Target acquired."
Her expression hardened.
"Just die already!"
BRRRRRRT!
The quad 20mm cannons opened fire.
Armor-piercing rounds slammed into the Rapture vehicle, sending it tumbling across the road in a shower of sparks and debris.
Hipper immediately traversed the turret toward another target.
"Next."
WHOOSH!
Unguided rockets launched from the APC.
BOOM!
Another Rapture machine was blown apart.
Hipper followed up by firing a missile at a larger target approaching from the flank.
FWOOOSH!
The missile struck.
KABOOM!
The Rapture unit disappeared beneath the explosion.
Inside the troop compartment, Bismarck and Tirpitz were seated side by side, holding tightly onto the interior handles.
Eugen and Avrora were doing the same alongside Pallada and Diana.
Nimi stayed close to Vestal, who kept one hand braced against the wall while watching the battlefield through a firing port.
"Everyone, stay down!" Vestal warned.
Another explosion rocked the APC.
BOOM!
The entire vehicle lurched sideways.
Avrora immediately grabbed Eugen to keep her from being thrown against the wall.
"Are you all right?"
Eugen steadied herself and grinned.
"I'm fine!"
She looked toward the gunner's position.
"This is actually rather exciting."
She laughed.
"Too bad my sister is manning the gun."
Hipper's voice came through the compartment.
"I can hear you."
Eugen's grin widened.
Hipper sighed.
"Of course you would say that."
Nearby, Pallada and Diana held onto their restraints as another volley passed overhead.
The rescued Shipgirls were still weak, but they were beginning to understand exactly what their new allies were capable of.
And judging by the amount of fire surrounding them, they were beginning to understand just how angry the Rapture forces had become.
At the front of the APC, beside Wales, Yuuki was coordinating with Yorktown.
"Hana, three contacts on our right."
"Got them."
Yorktown immediately redirected another Hellstorm missile toward the designated targets.
The missile descended through the clouds.
Its casing separated.
Six miniature missiles scattered outward.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three Rapture vehicles disappeared beneath the barrage.
Yuuki looked at the tactical display.
"Hana, prepare for the next wave."
"Understood."
The sky seemed to rain missiles.
One Hellstorm after another descended toward the Rapture forces surrounding the APCs.
Each carrier missile separated just before reaching its target.
Its smaller missiles scattered.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Entire groups of Rapture machines were annihilated.
But Yorktown's tactical display continued filling with new contacts.
Her expression slowly became more serious.
"Commander…"
Yuuki looked toward her transmission.
"How many?"
Yorktown hesitated.
"Too many."
Another wave of Rapture units emerged from the surrounding terrain.
Droids.
Drones.
Armored combat machines.
They were converging from every direction.
Yuuki stared at the growing sea of hostile contacts.
Heavy vehicles.
Droid infantry.
Missile carriers.
More armored units were approaching from the flanks.
Yorktown's expression hardened.
"There's no way the cruise missiles can keep up with this."
Yuuki looked ahead.
"Then we'll have to increase our firepower."
Several hundred meters away, another Goliath APC tore through the battlefield.
Anis was behind the wheel.
And unlike Wales, she wasn't even pretending to drive carefully.
"Hang on!"
The APC suddenly swerved.
SKREEECH!
Kashima grabbed the side rail.
"Anis!"
"I'm avoiding the missiles!"
"You almost hit that building!"
"It was already damaged!"
Anis grinned as she slammed the steering controls back into position.
"Besides, this is a Goliath APC. This thing can go through everything!"
"That doesn't mean you have to!"
Inside the troop compartment, Ludmilla held tightly onto the interior supports.
"Alice, are you all right?"
Alice was practically bouncing against her seat.
"I'm fine! Mr Rabbit's crew is really something."
Neve and Tove were gripping the overhead handles with both hands.
Katori was doing her best to remain composed despite the increasingly violent ride.
"This driving…"
Tove glanced toward her.
"Terrifying?"
Katori nodded.
"Extremely."
Above them, Neon was manning the APC's main weapon system.
She rotated the turret toward an approaching Rapture unit.
"COME CLOSER!"
BRRRRRRRRT!
The 20mm quad guns shredded the target.
Neon's eyes practically sparkled.
Then she immediately switched weapons.
"Have some of this!"
WHOOSH!
An unguided rocket streaked toward a Rapture tank.
KABOOM!
The tank erupted in flames.
Rapi, Mary, Pepper, and Nayuta fired through the APC's smaller firing ports.
"Left side!" Rapi called.
Pepper immediately turned and fired.
"Got it!"
Mary followed with another burst.
BRRRRT!
Nayuta calmly tracked a Rapture droid through her scope.
"Target eliminated."
BOOM!
Another enemy disappeared.
Anis suddenly swerved again.
"Missile!"
"ANIS!" several voices shouted simultaneously.
"What?!"
She yanked the controls.
The Goliath narrowly avoided the incoming projectile.
The missile passed inches above the vehicle before disappearing into the distance.
Kashima nearly fell over.
"Warn us first!"
"I did!"
"You shouted after turning!"
Anis blinked.
"Oh."
Then she grinned.
"Still counts."
Ludmilla sighed.
"This is worse than riding with a drunk pilot."
Neve nodded.
"Much worse."
Tove tightened her grip on the overhead handle.
"I never knew Anis was this crazy!"
Anis laughed.
"You're welcome!"
Then—
The light inside the APC suddenly dimmed.
Everyone looked upward.
The sky had darkened.
More Hellstorm missiles were descending from above.
Dozens of them.
The missiles streaked through the clouds toward the massive concentration of Rapture forces surrounding the fleeing APCs.
Neon looked up through her viewport.
Her grin slowly returned.
"Oh…"
She tightened her grip on the weapon controls.
"This is going to be fun."
One.
Five.
Ten.
Dozens.
They streaked downward before separating into clouds of smaller missiles.
The battlefield erupted.
Rapture tanks exploded.
Droid formations were scattered.
Missile carriers were torn apart.
But even that wasn't enough.
Yorktown's tactical screen continued filling with hostile contacts.
"Commander..."
"I see them."
Yuuki looked ahead.
The road was becoming a sea of Rapture forces.
More were emerging from the hills.
More were arriving from behind.
And several heavily armored units were now advancing directly toward the fleeing APCs.
At the same time...
"Sir..."
Jarvis's voice came through the communications channel.
"The Alpha Charlie has arrived."
Yuuki's expression immediately changed into a smirk.
The newly rescued Shipgirls noticed.
Duke of York narrowed her eyes.
"Sly snake."
She crossed her arms.
"What art thou planning now?"
Yuuki looked toward the sky.
"Well..."
A distant silhouette appeared above the battlefield.
At first, the rescued Shipgirls thought it was another Harbinger Gunship.
Then the aircraft emerged from the clouds.
Everyone stared.
It was enormous.
Ten Skull Squadron Mark IV Firehawks escorted it from all sides, making the massive aircraft look even more imposing.
Neon's mouth dropped open.
"That's a plane?!"
Ludmilla stared upward.
"Good heavens..."
The aircraft was roughly twice the size of a Harbinger Gunship.
Its overall size was comparable to an enormous Antonov-class transport aircraft.
But unlike a conventional heavy aircraft, it didn't use four engines.
It had six.
The designation appeared across the tactical display.
ALPHA CHARLIE 130
And beneath it, another name.
THE ANGEL OF DEATH
AC-130 Gunship.
Neon stared upward.
"Wow..."
"That's one big plane."
She looked toward Yuuki.
"Wouldn't that make it an easier target?"
Yuuki chuckled.
"Not exactly."
"That thing has a very powerful shield system."
"We built it to be true death from above."
The massive aircraft passed overhead.
Its weapons bays began opening.
Unlike conventional gunships, the weapons weren't permanently fixed to one side.
The AC-130's weapons could be deployed from either side of the aircraft and retracted whenever necessary.
Its chrono-dimensional ammunition storage meant ammunition capacity wasn't a practical concern.
Its primary power source was a new Element Ark Reactor, allowing the aircraft to remain airborne indefinitely.
Its defensive systems included powerful energy shielding and anti-air flares.
And its offensive armament was staggering.
Two 150mm cannons.
Two 105mm air-to-ground unguided rocket launchers.
LTM missile launchers.
Two 40mm Bufor cannon systems.
And quadruple 30mm Vulcan Gatling cannons.
Yorktown stared at the incoming gunship.
"Hana..."
Yuuki looked toward her from his interface.
"Take the two 105mm air-to-ground unguided rockets and the LTM launchers."
"I am assigning you the LTM. That thing packs a punch."
He pointed toward the battlefield.
"So don't aim it at us."
Yorktown smiled.
"Understood."
"Jarvis, keep the aircraft circling."
"Let the girls shoot."
"Will do, sir."
Yuuki then switched channels.
"Enty."
Enterprise's voice answered immediately.
"Yes, Commander?"
"You're controlling the two 150mm cannons."
"Understood."
"They have a five-second reload. Be mindful that 150mm is quite powerful."
Enterprise's smile could almost be heard through the radio.
"Then I'll make every shot count."
Yuuki turned toward Kaga.
"Kaga."
"Hai, Shikikan-sama!"
"You'll control the twin 40mm cannons. Each cannon can fire fifteen rounds before needing to reload."
"Two cannons at once?"
"Exactly. Or one at a time depending on your shooting style."
Kaga's eyes lit up.
"I'll watch your back."
Yuuki then contacted Akagi.
"Akagi."
"Yes, Shikikan-sama?"
"You'll control the quadruple 30mm Vulcan Gatling cannons. Each cannon has thirty rounds before reloading, and you can fire all four Gatlings simultaneously."
"Use them to shred the droids or small targets."
"Anything pursuing us from behind is yours."
Akagi giggled.
"Ufufufu..."
"Akagi will protect Shikikan-sama."
Finally, Yuuki looked toward Kaguya.
"Kaguya."
The Arcane Shipgirl smiled.
"Yes, dearest?"
"There are ten elite Skull Squadron Mark IV Firehawks."
"Watch the AC-130's back."
"You can disengage whenever necessary to pursue flying threats."
Kaguya's ten tails swayed behind her.
"Have no fear, dearest."
"Thy wife shall watch thy back."
Yuuki smiled.
"Good."
Jarvis's voice returned.
"Sir."
"AC-130 has entered the airspace."
The massive aircraft descended over the battlefield.
Its weapons bays opened.
Targeting systems activated.
The six engines roared as the Angel of Death began its first attack run.
Yuuki raised his comm.
"Girls..."
"Passing fire controls to you. Estimate your shots before firing."
He grinned.
"Let it rip!"
The Alpha Charlie 130 arrived over the battlefield.
"Jarvis, bank left."
"Roger."
The massive gunship tilted into the turn.
As its left side came into view, several weapons bays opened simultaneously.
Four quadruple 30mm Vulcan Gatling cannons emerged from their armored housings.
Then two twin 40mm Bofors cannons deployed.
The massive twin 150mm cannons followed, rotating into firing position.
Beneath the aircraft, the two 105mm air-to-ground rocket launchers extended alongside the LTM launcher.
For the Shipgirls watching from the APCs, the sight was almost surreal.
It looked less like an aircraft and more like an airborne battleship.
Yorktown was the first to act.
"Target acquired."
She took manual control of the LTM launcher.
"Fire."
WHOOSH!
An LTM missile shot from beneath the AC-130.
Yorktown immediately painted the target with her laser designator.
The missile accelerated toward a massive Rapture formation.
"Come on..."
The laser remained locked.
The missile struck.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosion was enormous.
A tremendous shockwave expanded across the battlefield, throwing debris and dust into the air.
Even the AC-130 shook from the blast.
Inside the aircraft, Jarvis compensated immediately.
"Significant shockwave detected."
Enterprise steadied herself.
"That was only one missile?"
Kaga stared at the explosion.
"That's quite a punch."
Akagi giggled.
"Imagine four Gatlings firing at once."
Yorktown smiled.
"Commander..."
Yuuki's voice came through the channel.
"Yes?"
"Remind me why you gave me control of the LTM launcher?"
Yuuki laughed.
"Because I trust you."
Yorktown looked toward the battlefield.
"Then I'll make sure you don't regret it."
She acquired another target.
The LTM launcher began cycling.
Outside, the Angel of Death continued its banking turn.
Yorktown quickly realized that the LTM launcher was far too destructive to use casually.
"I'll save the LTM for priority targets."
She switched to the 105mm air-to-ground unguided rocket launchers.
"Let's use the smaller ones first."
Two 105mm unguided rockets launched from beneath the AC-130.
WHOOSH!
They streaked toward an advancing Rapture formation.
BOOM!
The explosion tore through the group, destroying several armored units at once.
Yorktown nodded.
"Much better."
Inside the gunship, Enterprise had already taken control of the twin 150mm cannons.
She tracked an approaching Rapture formation.
"Target acquired."
BOOM!
The first 150mm cannon fired.
The shell slammed into the formation and obliterated it.
Enterprise slowly traversed the cannons toward the heavier Rapture armor advancing behind it.
"Second target."
The second cannon aligned.
Then both weapons settled into position.
A moment later—
"150mm ready."
The AC-130's onboard computer announced that the weapons had completed their reload cycle.
Enterprise smiled.
"Fire."
BOOM!
BOOM!
Two enormous shells struck the advancing armor almost simultaneously.
Blowing them up.
Yorktown selected a dense Rapture formation on her tactical display.
She brought up the LTM.
Enterprise immediately noticed the weapon designation.
"Hana…?"
Yorktown didn't answer.
She simply guided the weapon toward the approaching formation.
"Target locked."
The LTM descended.
Yorktown adjusted its trajectory at the last moment, guiding the missile directly toward the center of the Rapture formation.
"Impact."
FWOOOOOOOOM!
The explosion swallowed the entire formation.
A dozen Rapture tanks and countless droids vanished in the massive blast.
The shockwave expanded outward.
Even the AC-130 was rocked by the force.
The aircraft shuddered violently.
Enterprise stared at the aftermath.
"That was…"
She looked at Yorktown.
"Hana!"
Yorktown turned.
"Yes?"
Enterprise pointed toward the enormous explosion still expanding below.
"That thing is too powerful!"
Yorktown gave a sheepish smile.
"That's why I'm trying not to use the LTM."
Enterprise blinked.
"You're trying?"
Yorktown quickly switched weapons.
She fired another pair of 105mm rockets.
WHOOSH!
The rockets streaked downward.
BOOM!
Two more Rapture vehicles were destroyed.
Enterprise shook her head.
"You call those smaller?"
Yorktown nodded.
"They're smaller."
Enterprise stared at the battlefield.
"That doesn't make me feel better."
Yorktown simply smiled and returned her attention to the tactical display.
Below them, the Goliath APCs continued racing toward the outer perimeter.
The battle was becoming less of an escape—
And more of a full-scale assault.
Meanwhile, Kaga had taken control of the twin 40mm Bofors cannons.
The guns tracked incoming Rapture units.
Unlike the 105mm rockets and 150mm cannons, the 40mm explosive shells had considerably less destructive power.
But each cannon could fire fifteen rounds before requiring a reload.
Kaga deliberately fired one round at a time.
BOOM!
A Rapture droid exploded.
Another target.
BOOM!
Another disappeared.
"Target acquired."
Kaga calmly continued firing.
The steady rhythm of the Bofors cannons gave the AC-130 a constant stream of defensive fire.
Then—
VRRRRRRRRRRRT!
The four 30mm Vulcan Gatling cannons spun up.
Akagi took control.
Her eyes narrowed with delight.
"Oh?"
The guns began firing.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
A storm of 30mm rounds poured into the Rapture formations below.
Droids were shredded.
Vehicles were ripped apart.
Anything caught in the stream of fire was reduced to wreckage.
Akagi giggled.
"Ufufufu..."
"Stay away from Shikikan-sama."
Another formation attempted to approach from behind.
Akagi immediately redirected all four Gatlings.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
The formation disappeared beneath the hail of ammunition.
Then Yorktown spotted something.
A heavily armored Rapture truck carrying reinforcements was attempting to escape the battlefield.
She hesitated.
"That one."
She switched to the LTM launcher.
Enterprise immediately noticed.
"Hana..."
"I know."
Yorktown painted the truck with her laser.
"Priority target."
WHOOSH!
The LTM missile launched.
A moment later—
BOOOOOOM!
The truck vanished beneath a massive explosion.
The shockwave struck the AC-130 again.
The enormous aircraft rocked in the air.
Jarvis immediately compensated.
"Shockwave detected."
Enterprise looked toward Yorktown.
"Hana!"
Yorktown smiled nervously.
"Sorry."
"You used the LTM again. You could just let me handle it."
"It was a priority target."
"You said that last time."
"It really was."
Enterprise sighed.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
Another pair of 105mm rockets launched.
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
The APCs below continued racing forward while the Angel of Death circled above them.
Inside Wales's APC, everyone could only stare upward between incoming fire.
Anson's mouth was hanging open.
"That's..."
Howe finished for her.
"Excessive."
Avrora watched another Rapture formation disappear.
"I believe that is an appropriate description. To think that this thing is much more powerful than the Harbinger Gunship."
In Anis's APC, Neon was practically bouncing.
"THIS IS AWESOME! A FLYING FIREPOWER!"
Rapi looked upward.
"Don't get distracted."
"But look at it!"
Kashima held onto the interior.
"I've never seen an aircraft fight like a battleship!"
Ludmilla simply stared.
"I believe I am beginning to understand why they named it the Angel of Death."
Above them, the six-engine gunship continued its attack run.
The 150mm cannons fired.
The Bofors cannons hammered targets.
The Vulcan Gatlings poured ammunition into the battlefield.
105mm rockets streaked downward.
And whenever Yorktown deemed a target important enough—
The LTM launcher spoke.
WHOOSH.
Then came the inevitable answer.
BOOOOOOM!
The entire aircraft shook from the resulting shockwave.
The Raptures below had finally learned the truth.
The Hellstorm missiles had been devastating.
But they had only been the beginning.
The Angel of Death had arrived.
And it was just getting started.
The Rapture forces finally began adapting.
Several droids raised surface-to-air missile launchers toward the massive AC-130.
"Multiple anti-air missile groups detected," Jarvis announced. "Recommend immediate engagement."
The missile batteries locked onto the aircraft.
Jarvis reacted instantly.
"Countermeasures deployed."
FWOOSH! FWOOSH!
Anti-air flares erupted behind the AC-130 as it banked slightly, causing the incoming missiles to lose their lock and veer away.
Kaga spotted the missile groups below.
"Found them."
She traversed the twin 40mm Bofors cannons.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The explosive shells struck the missile batteries.
"Anti-air group destroyed."
Yuuki immediately opened another communications channel.
"Girls!"
The APCs continued racing across the battlefield.
"Use the laser designators."
"Mark targets for our air group."
Rapi raised her designator.
"Understood."
Other members of the convoy followed suit.
Red laser began appearing across the battlefield via infrared, marking armored Rapture units, artillery positions and missile emplacements.
Above them, Yorktown's targeting display began filling with designated targets.
"Got them."
She smiled.
"Thanks, Commander."
Meanwhile, Kaguya suddenly sensed something approaching.
"Dearest..."
Her expression sharpened.
"We have airborne Raptures."
She looked toward the approaching enemy aircraft.
"They're attempting to attack the Angel of Death."
Kaguya immediately disengaged one of the Skull Squadron fighters from the AC-130's formation.
"Breaking off."
One of the Skull Squadron Mark IV Firehawks followed her command.
It climbed rapidly.
"Target acquired."
The Rapture aircraft turned toward the Skull Firehawk.
"Airspeed, three hundred."
The Firehawk accelerated.
"Going for missile lock."
The Rapture jet fired first.
Kaguya rolled the Firehawk aside.
"Too slow."
The targeting reticle locked.
"Fire."
WHOOSH!
A missile streaked toward the Rapture aircraft.
BOOM!
The hostile aircraft disappeared in a fireball.
Kaguya smiled.
"Threat eliminated."
She turned the Firehawk back toward the Angel of Death.
"Thy wife shall not allow anything to touch thee, dearest."
Ahead of the APC convoy, another problem appeared.
A large refueling station stood along their escape route.
Rapture gun emplacements were already activating around it.
Yorktown studied the tactical feed.
"Commander..."
Yuuki looked toward her.
"What's wrong?"
"You're going to pass directly beside that refueling station. A lot of raptures gathering there."
He glanced at the target.
"Then take it out."
"Hana..."
Enterprise interrupted.
"Need a big boom?"
Yorktown nodded.
"Exactly."
She switched to the LTM launcher.
The targeting system attempted to calculate a firing solution.
ERROR.
"Too narrow," Yorktown said.
"I can't get a clean angle."
Yuuki thought for a moment.
"Use the camera."
Yorktown blinked.
"The camera?"
"Guide the LTM manually through the aircraft's targeting camera."
"Oh."
Yorktown switched modes.
The AC-130's camera feed appeared before her.
She maneuvered the targeting reticle around the narrow approach.
"Got it."
The LTM launcher opened.
Enterprise looked over.
"Hana..."
Yorktown smiled.
"I know."
"Priority target."
She pressed the trigger.
WHOOSH!
The LTM missile shot from beneath the AC-130.
Yorktown guided it through the camera feed.
The missile slipped between the surrounding structures.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The refueling station vanished beneath an enormous explosion.
The shockwave slammed into the AC-130.
The entire six-engine aircraft shook.
Jarvis immediately compensated for the turbulence.
"Significant blast wave detected."
Enterprise stared at Yorktown.
"Hana..."
"Yes?"
"Remind me again why you get to use the LTM?"
Yorktown sheepishly smiled.
"Because I have the best judgment?"
Enterprise stared at her.
Yorktown hesitated.
"...Most of the time."
Akagi's voice came through the comms.
"Akagi thinks she should have it, Shikikan-sama."
Enterprise immediately answered.
"Absolutely not."
Yorktown laughed.
"See?"
Enterprise sighed.
"Better than giving it to Akagi."
Akagi giggled.
"How cruel."
Below them, the burning remains of the refueling station marked the convoy's path.
The Rapture forces were no longer merely pursuing them.
They were desperately trying to stop them.
But every attempt was being answered from above.
The Angel of Death continued circling overhead.
And its guns were still loaded.
"So jealous!"
Neon's voice suddenly erupted over the comms.
"I want to control the gunship too!"
Alice looked at her.
"You'll blow everything up!"
Neon gasped.
"That's the point!"
"No, it isn't."
Ludmilla calmly watched the AC-130 raining destruction over the battlefield.
"Perhaps someone with elegance should be entrusted with such a weapon."
Anis immediately looked toward her.
"Get in line, Milla."
"We want to control it too."
Rapi sighed.
"You're all getting distracted."
Outside, the quadruple 30mm Vulcan Gatling cannons continued roaring.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
Akagi poured fire across the battlefield, sweeping the cannons across entire formations.
"Ufufufu..."
"Run all you want!"
"Akagi will get you!"
Meanwhile, Kaga remained considerably more disciplined.
She carefully tracked individual emplacements with the twin 40mm Bofors cannons.
BOOM!
One emplacement destroyed.
She immediately shifted to another.
BOOM!
Another target eliminated.
"Target acquired."
Her firing was deliberate and controlled.
Unlike Akagi's enthusiastic spray-and-pray approach, Kaga fired only when she had a clean target.
Enterprise and Yorktown were equally disciplined.
Enterprise carefully traversed the twin 150mm cannons toward heavily armored Rapture formations.
"Target acquired."
BOOM!
The enormous shell slammed into the formation.
Yorktown followed with the 105mm unguided rockets.
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
"Next target."
The AC-130's weapons worked almost like a coordinated artillery battery in the sky.
Heavy targets were handled by the 150mm cannons.
Groups of armor were struck by the 105mm rockets.
Smaller threats and emplacements were dealt with by the Bofors cannons.
And anything considered a high-priority target was reserved for the LTM launcher.
Then Rapi suddenly spotted something approaching.
"Rapture gunship!"
Everyone looked upward.
A Rapture gunship had emerged through the smoke.
It was rapidly closing on the two fleeing APCs.
"Incoming!"
The gunship opened fire.
Yuuki immediately shouted over the comms.
"Hana!"
"Already on it."
Yorktown switched to the LTM launcher.
Her laser designator locked onto the Rapture gunship.
"Target painted."
WHOOSH!
The LTM missile shot upward.
The Rapture gunship attempted to evade.
But the missile corrected its trajectory.
BOOOOOOM!
The gunship exploded in midair.
Its burning wreckage spiraled toward the ground.
There was a brief silence inside the APCs.
Anis slowly looked upward.
"...Okay."
Neon turned toward her.
"What?"
Anis pointed at the AC-130.
"I want gunship control too."
Enterprise's voice immediately came through the comms.
"No."
Anis frowned.
"Why?"
"Because I heard what you just said."
"I can be responsible."
Rapi looked at her.
"No, you can't."
Anis crossed her arms.
"How do you know?"
Neon raised her hand.
"I also want to try!"
Everyone answered simultaneously.
"No!"
Neon pouted.
"You're all no fun."
Above them, the Angel of Death continued its attack run.
The six engines roared.
The 150mm cannons fired.
The Bofors cannons hammered the battlefield.
The Vulcan Gatlings continued raining fire.
And Yorktown calmly kept the LTM launcher ready.
The Raptures had brought another gunship.
The GDI had simply shot it out of the sky.
The convoy continued forward.
And the Angel of Death remained above them, watching everything.
"Ufufufu..."
Yuu's voice came through the comms.
"Everyone wants a piece of the fun, Chief."
Yuuki chuckled.
"That's why a weapon like this requires someone with discipline to handle it."
He glanced toward the battlefield.
"How's your side?"
"Akagi is making quick work of the small fries."
Yuu paused.
"And Anis is quite the driver."
Yuuki looked toward the other APC.
"Same as Wales."
Wales's voice immediately came through.
"I heard that."
Anson giggled.
"She's not wrong."
Yuuki smiled.
"Let's provide some support as well, Yuu."
"Hai."
The rear hatch of Yuuki's APC opened.
Yuuki stepped onto the rear platform, his magnetic boots locking firmly onto the armored surface.
Yuu did the same from the other APC.
Both stood atop their respective vehicles as they raced through the battlefield.
Yuuki raised his weapons.
"Let's clear the road."
His repulsor cannons opened fire.
FWOOOM!
Yuu's weapons fired alongside him.
FWOOOM!
Rapture droids and armored vehicles were blasted apart as the two GDI commanders provided additional fire support from the moving APCs.
Above them, the Angel of Death continued its attack run.
Explosions rained down from the sky.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The battlefield shook beneath the combined fire of the AC-130 and the fleeing convoy.
Yuuki looked ahead.
A massive fortified gate blocked their route.
"We need a passage."
He opened the comms.
"Enty."
Enterprise immediately answered.
"Yes, Commander?"
"Blow up the gate."
"We need it open."
Enterprise smiled.
"Understood."
She traversed the two 150mm cannons.
The massive weapons aligned with the gate.
"Target acquired."
A moment later—
"Firing!"
BOOOOOOM!
The 150mm shell slammed into the gate.
The enormous explosion tore through the structure.
Metal fragments flew outward as the fortified entrance collapsed.
Dust and smoke filled the road.
Yuuki looked through the haze.
"Passage confirmed."
But the Raptures were still chasing them.
More armored units emerged through the smoke.
Kaga calmly tracked them with the Bofors cannons.
"Targets acquired."
BOOM!
One vehicle disappeared.
She shifted to the next.
BOOM!
Another target destroyed.
Kaga continued firing one shot at a time, methodically clearing the pursuit.
Yuuki looked upward toward the Angel of Death.
"Good work, girls."
The massive AC-130 continued circling above them.
Its six engines roared.
Its dual 150mm cannons fired.
The Bofors cannons hammered targets.
The Vulcan Gatlings continued their relentless barrage.
And Yorktown kept the LTM launcher ready for anything important enough to warrant it.
The convoy accelerated through the newly opened gate.
The escape continued.
Yuuki fired his repulsor cannons alongside Yuu as both APCs finally burst through the base's main gate.
FWOOOM!
They surged onto the open road.
For half a second, it looked like they had made it.
Then—
WARNING!
The defensive systems around the gate suddenly powered back on.
Turrets emerged from the walls.
Missile launchers rotated toward the fleeing APCs.
"Gate defenses are online!" Rapi shouted.
Yuuki looked back.
"Of course they are."
Kaga's voice calmly came through the comms.
"I have them."
The twin 40mm Bofors cannons traversed toward the newly activated emplacements.
BOOM!
One defensive turret exploded.
BOOM!
Another disappeared.
Kaga methodically continued firing, destroying each emplacement before it could bring its weapons to bear.
Meanwhile, Akagi's four 30mm Vulcan Gatlings spun up.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
A storm of rounds swept across the road behind the APCs.
Any Rapture units attempting to pursue them were shredded.
"Not so fast!"
Akagi laughed.
The remaining defensive positions were quickly overwhelmed.
But then—
"Two gunships!" Rapi shouted.
Two Rapture gunships rose behind them.
Their weapons began tracking the fleeing APCs.
Yuuki looked upward.
"Enty."
Enterprise had already acquired one.
"Target locked."
One of the 150mm cannon fired.
BOOM!
The shell struck the first gunship.
It exploded in midair.
"One down."
The second gunship continued closing.
Yorktown calmly acquired it with the LTM launcher.
"Target painted."
Yuuki glanced upward.
"Oh, that one's going to be loud."
WHOOSH!
The LTM missile launched.
The Rapture gunship attempted to evade.
It wasn't fast enough.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The gunship disappeared in a tremendous explosion.
The shockwave rolled across the battlefield.
Yuuki looked upward as pieces of the burning aircraft fell away.
"Damn..."
"That thing is loud."
Yuu laughed.
"Indeed!"
Yuuki glanced toward the other APC.
"Having fun in the field, Yuu?"
There was a brief pause.
"Yes."
Yuu smiled.
"Especially with you."
Yuuki raised an eyebrow.
"Hey."
He grinned.
"No flirting in the field."
Neon's voice immediately cut into the comms.
"HEY!"
"Exactly!"
"What's wrong with flirting?!"
Anis laughed.
"Neon, you're just jealous."
"I am NOT!"
Rapi sighed.
"Can we please focus on escaping?"
Above them, the Angel of Death continued circling.
The last gunship had been destroyed.
The gate defenses were falling silent.
And the two APCs continued racing away from the ruined Rapture base.
For the first time, the horizon ahead was beginning to look clear.
Jarvis took control of the AC-130 and guided the massive gunship away from the ruined Rapture base, keeping it positioned above and behind the two fleeing APCs.
"Extraction is on the way."
"Just need to hold on!"
Yuuki immediately opened the convoy channel.
"Wales, Anis..."
"Punch it."
"Let the gunship above worry about covering us."
Wales gripped the controls.
"Understood."
Anis grinned.
"Finally, permission to drive fast!"
Rapi immediately grabbed onto the nearest handle.
"That wasn't permission to drive recklessly!"
Too late.
Both APCs accelerated.
Above them, the Angel of Death continued circling, its weapons tracking the battlefield.
Then Kaguya suddenly spoke.
"Dearest."
Her tone became serious.
"A lot of fast movers are approaching."
Yuuki looked upward.
"How many?"
"Enough."
Kaguya smiled.
"This wife shall handle them."
She immediately redirected two of the elite Skull Squadron Mark IV Firehawks away from the AC-130.
The two fighters accelerated toward the approaching Rapture aircraft.
"Splitting two from the elite squadron."
"Keep the other eight with the gunship."
Yuuki nodded.
"Good hunting."
The two Firehawks raced toward the Rapture formation.
There were far more enemy aircraft than the two fighters.
But numbers weren't everything.
Each GDI Firehawk carried its ammunition through chrono-dimensional storage, allowing it to carry significantly more missiles than a conventional fighter could physically accommodate.
The Rapture fast movers launched their first salvo.
Missiles streaked toward Kaguya's Firehawk.
"Missiles incoming."
Kaguya calmly activated the Firehawk's electronic countermeasures.
The aircraft's systems disrupted the incoming targeting solutions.
Several missiles lost their locks.
Others veered away entirely.
Kaguya smiled.
"Too slow."
She selected a target.
"Fox One."
WHOOSH!
A missile launched.
BOOM!
One Rapture fighter disappeared.
Another aircraft attempted to flank her.
Kaguya rolled sharply.
"Found thee."
She fired again.
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
Another fast mover erupted.
The second Firehawk joined the engagement.
"Target on your six."
"I see it."
Kaguya pulled into a tight turn.
The enemy aircraft followed.
Then the Firehawk abruptly reversed direction.
The Rapture fighter overshot.
Kaguya immediately locked on.
"Got thee."
WHOOSH!
BOOM!
The fighter exploded.
The remaining Rapture aircraft began attempting to overwhelm the two Firehawks through sheer numbers.
Kaguya wasn't impressed.
"Come then."
The two Firehawks weaved through the formation, using their superior electronic warfare and maneuverability to avoid incoming missiles while their own weapons continued picking targets apart.
One by one.
The Rapture fast movers disappeared.
And whenever an enemy aircraft managed to break through the two-fighter interception line—
The remaining eight Skull Squadron Firehawks were waiting.
A formation of Rapture aircraft attempted to bypass Kaguya.
Eight GDI fighters immediately intercepted them.
The sky erupted into another dogfight.
Below, the two APCs continued racing toward the extraction point.
Above them, the Angel of Death maintained its position.
Its guns remained trained on the battlefield.
Its shields protected the massive aircraft.
And its escorts ensured nothing reached it.
Yuuki watched the tactical display.
"Jarvis."
"Yes, sir?"
"Keep that bird with us."
"Understood."
The AC-130 banked slightly.
Its six engines roared as it followed the fleeing convoy.
The extraction operation was entering its final phase.
Soon, both APCs reached the far end of the island.
But the Raptures weren't giving up.
The moment they realized the prisoners were about to escape, the entire remaining force began converging on the convoy.
Armored units.
Droid infantry.
Missile carriers.
Gunships.
Everything they had left was being thrown into one final assault.
They weren't trying to slow the convoy anymore.
They wanted the prisoners dead.
Or captured.
But after hearing Behemoth's furious orders earlier, Yuuki already knew which one they preferred.
"Everyone."
Yuuki opened the convoy channel.
"Prepare for a battle."
He looked toward the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes inside the APCs.
"Recovered Shipgirls and Nikkes, stay inside."
"You've been through enough."
"You're too weak to fight effectively right now."
Ludmilla frowned.
"You can lend us the Assault Armor again. We can still—"
"No."
Yuuki's voice remained firm.
"Leave this to us."
Ludmilla understood immediately.
"Everyone, stay down and let the GDI handle the perimeter."
Kashima and Katori nodded.
Alice held onto the side of the APC as another explosion shook the vehicle.
"Okay..."
Neve and Tove followed her example.
Meanwhile, Yuuki opened another channel.
"Hana."
"Enty."
"Kaga."
"Akagi."
The four Shipgirls answered.
"Yes, Commander."
"Watch our position."
"Do this well..."
Yuuki glanced toward the approaching Rapture army.
"...and we might not have to fight at all."
Enterprise smiled.
"I like that plan."
Kaga calmly prepared the Bofors cannons.
"Understood."
Akagi's voice carried a hint of excitement.
"Akagi is ready."
Yorktown began painting targets across the battlefield.
The Angel of Death maintained its position overhead.
Its weapons tracked the approaching Rapture formations.
Then Yuuki looked toward the sky.
"Kaguya."
"Air superiority."
Kaguya smiled.
"Roger."
The remaining Skull Squadron Firehawks immediately accelerated into position around the gunship.
The skies belonged to the GDI.
Yuuki then looked toward Yuu.
"Yuu."
"Let's fly around and look for targets."
"Hai."
Both commanders stepped away from the APCs.
Their armor activated.
The Mark 86 around Yuuki ignited its propulsion systems.
The Mark 49 around Yuu followed.
FWOOOM!
Both suits launched upward.
They rapidly climbed above the battlefield before separating in opposite directions.
Yuuki scanned the terrain below.
"Target acquired."
Yuu's voice came through the comms.
"I have another group."
The two commanders began marking targets for the air group.
Above them, Kaguya's Firehawks were already engaging incoming aircraft.
Behind them, the Angel of Death circled like an airborne fortress.
And on the ground, the two APCs continued toward the extraction point.
The Raptures were throwing everything they had into their final assault.
The GDI was preparing to answer with everything it had.
=========
"We detected multiple Raptures converging from the base!"
Wales immediately tightened her grip on her Ray Gun.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked toward the approaching contacts.
"Everyone, prepare for a firefight!"
The atmosphere inside the APC changed instantly.
The rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes tightened their restraints and held onto the interior supports as Wales, Eugen, and Avrora pulled out their Ray Guns.
Hipper remained at the APC's main weapon system, keeping her hands firmly on the controls.
The rescued Shipgirls had already seen what the Ray Gun could do.
It was an extraordinarily powerful weapon, especially when it came to dealing with groups of enemies.
Two shots were enough to destroy a Rapture tank.
And that was only one of the Wonder Weapons in Yuuki's arsenal.
A particularly powerful one.
Still, the thought lingered in the minds of the rescued Shipgirls.
They wanted to know just how powerful Yuuki's Thundergun was.
And Yuu's Tundragun.
They had witnessed them in action.
A single shot from the Thundergun could blast multiple enemies away at once, sending them flying as though they weighed nothing.
The Tundragun was just as terrifying in its own way.
Anything its freezing energy touched could be encased in ice. If a group of enemies stood directly in front of Yuu, one blast could freeze them all.
Compared to ordinary weapons, the Wonder Weapons were on an entirely different level.
And now, with more Raptures closing in around them, the rescued Shipgirls couldn't help but wonder.
If these weapons were already this powerful…
How many other Wonder Weapons did Yuuki's forces possess?
And if there were more—
Just how powerful could they possibly be?
Wales raised her Ray Gun.
The approaching Raptures were getting closer.
"Here they come."
Hipper immediately rotated the APC's turret toward the incoming targets.
Eugen smiled as she raised her weapon.
Avrora steadied herself beside her.
The rescued Shipgirls watched from their seats.
FWOOOOSH!
Wales fired.
The brilliant blast streaked toward the approaching Rapture forces.
"Fire!"
The approaching Raptures were almost upon them.
Wales raised her Ray Gun.
"Fire!"
The Shipgirls and Nikkes opened fire simultaneously.
FWOOOOSH!
Brilliant beams of energy tore across the battlefield.
Anis immediately grinned.
"I like this gun!"
She fired another shot.
The beam struck the ground beneath a group of Raptures.
BOOOOM!
The resulting blast engulfed several machines at once.
Anis stared at the destruction.
She looked down at the Ray Gun in her hands.
"I wonder if Commander will let us keep it?"
Rapi fired another shot.
FWOOOOSH!
"I doubt it."
She calmly tracked another group of Raptures.
"It's too powerful. Commander already mentioned that the splash damage can hurt allies. He'd rather let us use the other guns."
Anis frowned.
"That's a shame."
Nearby, Nayuta raised her own Ray Gun.
She pulled the trigger.
A brilliant green ray shot forward.
FWOOOOSH!
The blast struck the ground.
BOOM!
Several Rapture units were caught in the explosion and thrown aside.
Nayuta looked at the weapon with quiet appreciation.
She had already tested it back at the pyramid.
Even then, she had been impressed.
But seeing it used in an actual firefight was something else entirely.
"This weapon truly does pack a punch."
She fired again.
Another group of Raptures disappeared beneath the blast.
Nayuta smiled faintly.
"GDI really is full of wonders."
Mary and Pepper joined the barrage.
FWOOOSH!
FWOOOSH!
Their Ray Guns swept across the battlefield, their shots deliberately striking the ground rather than the Raptures themselves.
The effect was devastating.
They didn't even need to aim directly at their targets.
The Shipgirls quickly realized the same thing.
Hipper raised her Ray Gun.
Instead of aiming at a Rapture, she aimed at the ground between several of them.
FWOOOSH!
BOOM!
The splash damage tore through the entire group.
Hipper's eyes widened.
"...Oh."
Eugen immediately tried it herself.
She pointed toward the ground.
FWOOOSH!
BOOM!
Several Raptures were caught in the blast.
Eugen stared at the Ray Gun.
"Heh."
She raised an eyebrow.
"That's rather convenient."
Nimi fired next.
She deliberately placed her shot beneath a cluster of enemies.
BOOM!
The Raptures were thrown apart.
Nimi stared at the result.
"We don't even have to hit them directly."
Vestal was equally surprised.
She fired at the ground beneath another group.
BOOM!
More Raptures vanished.
"This is... surprisingly effective."
Even the rescued Shipgirls who had been watching from the APC couldn't help but stare.
The Ray Gun wasn't simply powerful.
It changed how they thought about aiming.
They didn't need to hit the enemy.
They simply needed to hit near the enemy.
Neon suddenly stopped.
She looked at the APC's weapon controls.
Then at the Ray Gun.
Then back at the weapon controls.
She immediately disengaged from the upper turret.
"I've seen enough!"
She grabbed her Ray Gun and leaned out from the firing position.
"I want in!"
FWOOOSH!
A green beam slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
Neon burst out laughing.
"THIS IS AWESOME!"
Anis laughed from the driver's compartment.
"I told you!"
Neon fired again.
"Imagine if Commander lent us his Thundergun!"
She looked at the destruction ahead of them.
"This would be easy!"
Anis immediately joined in.
"Or Doctor Yuu's Tundragun!"
She fired her Ray Gun.
"Freeze them first, then use the Ray Gun to shatter their metallic asses!"
Rapi sighed.
"You two are already planning how to abuse the Wonder Weapons."
"It's called tactical thinking!" Anis protested.
Neon nodded enthusiastically.
"Exactly!"
Another wave of Raptures rushed toward them.
The Shipgirls and Nikkes opened fire.
FWOOOSH!
FWOOOSH!
FWOOOSH!
Explosions erupted across the battlefield as the Ray Guns repeatedly struck the ground beneath the advancing machines.
Then something else caught their attention.
The weapons had barely needed to be reloaded.
Hipper lowered hers for a moment.
"How does this thing even reload?"
Anis looked down at her weapon.
"Oh, that part's easy."
She snapped the chamber shut from the front.
The Ray Gun's triple-AAA battery pack popped free.
Anis simply discharged the empty pack and tossed it aside.
She grabbed another.
CLICK.
It locked into place.
She raised the weapon again.
"Ready."
Neon stared.
"That's it?"
"That's it."
Rapi looked at the discarded battery.
"Commander really uses these as ammunition?"
"Apparently. A single battery can provide twenty shots."
Nayuta looked at her own Ray Gun.
"The same type of battery used by the Volt Auto Rifle?"
"Yep."
The Shipgirls stared at the tiny battery packs.
They looked absurdly ordinary.
Far too ordinary to be powering weapons capable of destroying Rapture tanks.
Hipper picked one up.
"This tiny thing can power that?"
Eugen looked equally bewildered.
"And the Volt Auto Rifle."
Nimi added quietly.
"Both weapons are using the same kind of battery."
Vestal examined the spare battery.
"And they're rechargeable?"
Anis nodded.
"Rechargeable."
Silence followed.
Everyone looked at the tiny AAA battery.
Then at the battlefield.
Then back at the battery.
Hipper's expression became increasingly incredulous.
"How in the world does the Commander use a triple-A battery as ammunition for a weapon like this?"
No one had an answer.
Another Ray Gun blast illuminated the battlefield.
FWOOOSH!
BOOM!
The Rapture formation disappeared beneath another wave of splash damage.
Neon raised her Ray Gun triumphantly.
"Whatever the science is…"
She fired again.
BOOM!
"I'm not complaining!"
================
Above them, Jarvis was already maneuvering the AC-130.
"Jarvis, bank right."
"Understood."
The massive gunship rolled smoothly to the right.
Its previously deployed weapons retracted into the hull as the aircraft repositioned.
Then the weapons systems on its right side emerged.
The quadruple 30mm Vulcan Gatlings rotated into position.
The twin 40mm Bofors cannons followed.
The twin 150mm cannons slid out of their armored housings.
Beneath the aircraft, the 105mm rocket launchers and LTM launcher became ready.
"Weapons online."
The Vulcan Gatlings immediately spun up.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
A torrent of 30mm rounds rained down onto the advancing Rapture forces.
Vehicles were shredded.
Droids disappeared beneath the storm of gunfire.
The Bofors cannons joined in.
BOOM!
BOOM!
Two Rapture emplacements vanished.
Then—
BOOM!
BOOM!
The twin 150mm cannons fired.
At almost the same moment, two 105mm rockets streaked downward.
WHOOSH!
The projectiles struck several vehicles and Crawlers.
BOOOOOOM!
The explosions tore through the advancing formation.
Inside the APCs, everyone looked upward.
The Angel of Death was doing almost all the work.
Neon stared at the destruction.
Her expression slowly became disappointed as she puts down the Ray Gun.
"...I want to shoot something."
Anis sighed.
Rapi sighed even harder.
Mary and Pepper quietly laughed.
Nayuta covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Eugen watched the massive gunship circling overhead.
"I want to ask Teddy Bear if he would let me control it for a while."
Hipper immediately shook her head.
"Not a chance."
She looked up at the AC-130.
"That thing is far too powerful."
Eugen pouted.
"Just one turn?"
"No."
Avrora laughed from the gunner position.
"Perhaps you should ask him after the battle."
"I will."
Nimi looked toward the battlefield.
Despite the overwhelming firepower from above, she refused to become complacent.
She continuously scanned the surroundings.
"Contact approaching from our left!"
She pointed toward a small group of Rapture units attempting to get around the AC-130's attack pattern.
"They're getting closer."
Vestal immediately checked the passengers.
"Everyone, stay inside."
She looked over the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes, making sure everyone was secure.
Nimi raised her weapon.
"I'll keep watching."
Another burst from the Vulcan Gatlings swept across the battlefield.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
The approaching Raptures were wiped out before they could even reach the convoy.
Nimi lowered her weapon slightly.
"...Never mind."
Vestal smiled.
"Still, keep watching."
Above them, the Angel of Death continued its relentless attack.
The 30mm Gatlings poured fire.
The Bofors cannons picked apart individual targets.
The 150mm cannons obliterated heavy formations.
The 105mm rockets struck clusters of vehicles.
And the Raptures continued pouring toward the convoy.
But none of them were getting close.
For the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes inside the APCs, it was almost surreal.
They had spent so long running from the Raptures.
Now an enormous six-engine gunship was flying above them and systematically dismantling everything that came near.
Neon looked up again.
"...I still want to shoot something."
Anis shook her head.
"You'd probably fire the entire ammunition supply."
Neon grinned.
"Exactly!"
Rapi groaned.
"That's exactly why you're not getting control."
The Angel of Death banked again.
Its weapons shifted to another group.
The battlefield erupted once more.
And the convoy continued toward extraction, protected by an airborne fortress.
Yorktown, Enterprise, Kaga and Akagi were having the time of their lives.
The four Shipgirls had completely settled into their respective weapons.
Yorktown carefully selected high-value targets.
Enterprise calmly directed the twin 150mm cannons.
Kaga methodically picked apart defensive emplacements with the Bofors cannons.
And Akagi...
Akagi was having far too much fun with the Vulcan Gatlings.
BRRRRRRRRRRT!
"Ufufufu!"
Kaguya detached two more Firehawks from the formation.
"Clear the skies."
The two elite fighters accelerated away from the Angel of Death, joining the other Firehawks in sweeping away Rapture aircraft attempting to approach the convoy.
Even the Shipgirls flying overhead were proving to be dangerous opponents.
Then several massive Rapture Crawlers appeared below, advancing directly toward the convoy.
"Targets approaching!"
Before anyone could engage—
WHOOSH!
An LTM missile descended.
BOOOOOOM!
The Crawlers disappeared beneath the explosion.
Yuu stared at the blast.
"...That works."
Yuuki suddenly spotted another threat.
"Raptures moving across the bridge!"
Yorktown immediately turned the targeting camera.
"I see them."
She painted the bridge.
"Fire."
WHOOSH!
The LTM missile struck.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!
The entire bridge was obliterated.
Chunks of concrete and twisted metal collapsed into the roadway.
Yuu fired another projectile at a nearby droid.
FWOOOM!
The droid vanished.
"Yeah."
Yuu looked toward the destroyed bridge.
"That works."
Yuuki laughed.
"Keep moving."
Both commanders accelerated through the air.
They flew ahead of the convoy, identifying missile Raptures and artillery positions before they could threaten the APCs.
Yuuki marked several targets.
"Missile battery, two o'clock."
"Got it," Yuu replied.
The two commanders opened fire.
Meanwhile, the Firehawks began dropping bombs across Rapture formations attempting to intercept the convoy.
BOOM!
BOOM!
The battlefield shook repeatedly.
Yet despite everything thrown at them, the Raptures remained relentless.
Then a new signal appeared on the tactical display.
"Extraction aircraft approaching."
Yuuki looked toward the horizon.
"There she is."
An Orca EX flew toward the battlefield before descending toward a suitable landing zone.
"Extraction is here!"
Wales immediately pushed the APC forward.
"Move!"
She brought the vehicle alongside the landing area.
"Everyone out!"
She immediately began helping her sisters.
York, Howe, Georgina and Anson moved toward the Orca EX.
Anson stared at the massive aircraft.
"Wow..."
"That thing is huge."
Wales grabbed her arm.
"Stop staring!"
"Go!"
Anson hurried toward the ramp.
"Coming!"
Avrora moved toward Pallada and Diana.
"Come on."
She helped both of them toward the aircraft while Hipper assisted from the other side.
Nearby, Eugen and Nimi helped Vestal get Bismarck and Tirpitz aboard.
"Careful."
"I've got you."
Bismarck nodded.
"Thank you."
Tirpitz followed close behind.
On the other side, Rapi, Anis and Neon helped Ludmilla, Alice, Tove and Neve toward the Orca.
At the same time, the Goliath APCs turned back into capsules.
"Keep moving!"
Anis looked behind them as she retrieved the APCs capsules.
"They're still coming!"
Neon fired another burst of green ray toward the approaching Raptures.
"Not for long!"
Mary and Pepper assisted Kashima and Katori.
"Almost there!"
Kashima looked toward the enormous aircraft.
"Thank you."
"Come on," Pepper urged.
"Inside!"
Nayuta remained behind the group.
She raised her weapon and provided covering fire.
BOOM!
A pursuing Rapture unit was destroyed.
Another group approached.
Nayuta calmly shifted her aim.
"Target acquired."
She fired again.
The evacuation continued.
One by one, the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes disappeared into the Orca EX.
Above them, the Angel of Death continued circling.
Yorktown, Enterprise, Kaga and Akagi kept the battlefield under control.
Kaguya's Firehawks dominated the skies.
And Yuuki and Yuu continued flying ahead, clearing the path.
Vestal immediately took charge the moment everyone was aboard.
"Med Bay. Everyone."
Ludmilla blinked.
"But we're—"
"No arguments."
Vestal gently but firmly guided the rescued Shipgirls and Nikkes toward the medical section.
"The treatment I gave you earlier was only a temporary measure. It restored enough of your physical condition for you to walk and fight if necessary."
She looked over each of them.
"But that doesn't mean you're fully recovered."
"We still need to check your vitals, internal injuries, nutritional condition and overall health."
Kashima nodded.
"Understood."
Katori followed.
"After everything we've endured, I suppose a proper examination is necessary."
York quietly followed them.
"I don't mind."
Katori, meanwhile, looked toward the medical equipment with obvious fascination.
"I want to see how all of this works."
Kashima grabbed her arm.
"Katori."
"Medical examination first."
"...Right."
Vestal smiled.
"Good."
She led them into the Med Bay.
Yuuki's comms suddenly came alive.
"Commander!"
Wales's voice.
"We're all aboard!"
Yuuki looked toward the tactical display.
"Good."
He opened the channel to Jarvis.
"Jarvis, get them out of here."
"We'll provide cover."
"Yes, sir."
The Orca EX immediately lifted from the ground.
Its engines roared as Jarvis pulled the aircraft away from the battlefield.
"Anis." Rapi's voice was flat, but the warning in it was unmistakable.
Anis slowly turned toward her.
"What?"
Rapi pointed toward the smoking crater where the Rapture formation had been.
"Don't even think about keeping one of those."
Anis raised both hands defensively.
"Okay, okay! I meant as ammunition!"
Neon stared at her in disbelief.
"You were seriously considering carrying around a miniature hydrogen fuel cell that can explode like a tactical nuke?"
Anis glanced at the spare batteries.
"Well... when you put it like that, it sounds dangerous."
"It is dangerous!" Neon shouted.
She pointed at the crater.
"That thing erased an entire Rapture formation!"
Anis shrugged.
"Which is exactly why it would be useful."
Rapi's expression hardened.
"Anis."
"Fine, fine. I won't throw another one without permission."
Neon narrowed her eyes.
"That wasn't the part I was worried about."
Anis blinked.
"What part were you worried about?"
"The part where you said 'without permission.'"
Anis gave her an innocent smile.
"Details."
Rapi sighed and reached over to secure the remaining batteries inside their protective compartment.
===================
"Kaguya's voice came through the communications channel.
"Airspace is clear."
She and the Firehawks had already swept away the remaining aerial threats, leaving the skies around the fleeing convoy clear.
Yuuki nodded.
"Good."
Then Yuu's voice suddenly cut through the channel.
"Rapture gunboats!"
Yuuki immediately looked toward the sea.
Several Rapture gunboats had emerged from behind the coastline.
Their turrets were already turning.
Then—
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Their weapons opened fire toward the departing Orca EX.
Yuu immediately opened the communications channel.
"Hana!"
Yorktown responded.
"Yes?"
"Switch priority."
Yuu pointed toward the gunboats.
"Clear out the boats shooting at the Orca!"
"Roger!"
The Angel of Death immediately began banking toward the coastline.
Yorktown's targeting system switched away from the ground battle.
New contacts appeared across her display.
Rapture gunboats.
She selected the closest one.
A targeting reticle locked onto its hull.
"Target locked."
Beside her, Enterprise rotated the twin 150mm cannons toward another gunboat.
Kaga traversed the 40mm Bofors cannons, bringing them to bear on a third target.
Akagi's 30mm Vulcan Gatlings spun up.
VRRRRRRRRRT!
The four Shipgirls prepared to protect the departing Orca EX.
Yorktown watched the aircraft accelerate farther away from the battlefield.
A faint smile appeared on her face.
"Nobody touches that aircraft."
Below, the Rapture gunboats fired another salvo.
BOOM! BOOM!
The projectiles streaked toward the Orca EX.
The transport accelerated away, narrowly pulling ahead of the incoming fire.
Yorktown's targeting reticle settled firmly onto the first gunboat.
"Open fire."
BOOOOOOM!
Enterprise's 150mm cannons thundered.
Kaga's Bofors opened up.
BRRRRRRT!
Akagi's Vulcans followed.
VRRRRRRRRT!
The coastline erupted into a storm of naval gunfire.
The gunboats had thought they were hunting a retreating transport.
Instead, they had just become the next targets of the fleet.