Chapter 489.2: YOU LENGHTENED THE PLANE AND REMOVED THE WHAT?!

Now, as the ship stabilized, Chu Guang turned from the window and asked the young man acting as temporary captain, “Report damages.”

After checking with the crew, the acting captain saluted and responded, “The side propellers were tangled by steel cables... They’re not broken though!”

“How long will it take for repairs?”

“12 hours at most...”

12 hours...

Chu Guang glanced at the map on the holographic screen, confirming the distance to the capital from their current position. He nodded slowly and issued the next order. "Drop anchor!"

"Also, launch the carrier aircraft and coordinate with the artillery units to provide cover for the Storm Corps' ground deployment!"

The acting captain stood at attention and gave a crisp salute. "Yes, sir!"

With Chu Guang’s order given, 20 W-2 Mosquito attack planes lifted off from the deck, steering clear of the balloons surrounding the airship and releasing illumination flares over areas where enemy forces might be present.

Meanwhile, the heavy anchor chains fell with a thunderous crash onto the plain below, dragging across the ground briefly before gradually bringing the airship to a halt.

Guided by the flares, the gunners in the airship’s artillery compartments opened fire on enemy units that had released the balloons, unleashing a barrage of fierce firepower.

Within moments, more than a dozen trucks were reduced to scrap metal under the cover of 155mm artillery shells.

At the same time, the Storm Corps began deploying from the airship’s lift platforms in an orderly fashion. Unit by unit, they infiltrated deep into the territory of the Falcon Kingdom, initiating Operation ‘Reprimand’.

Though the operation had started an hour earlier than planned, the minor change did not affect their execution at all.

When the plan was being drafted, they had already accounted for the possibility of the airship losing mobility, and even prepared for it to become completely inoperable.

Compared to the worst-case scenario, a 12 hour delay and a deviation of a few dozen kilometers were negligible.

Everything was progressing smoothly and in order.

At this moment, the Falcon Kingdom and the Army were still largely unaware of the New Alliance’s true strategic objective, assuming the plan was limited to air raids or a surprise attack on the capital.

Gripping the handrail beside the wall tightly, McClennan finally steadied himself.

Though the jolt had made him look a bit disheveled, seeing his enemy stumble brought a sweet satisfaction. It was like he just ate a spoonful of honey.

With a look of schadenfreude on his face, he couldn't help but sneer "... Heh. Even with the tools of civilized men, savages are still savages. Advancing deep without ground support? I can’t believe you actually went through with it."

"Oh?" Chu Guang glanced at him with surprise.

Oh wow.

So you do know?

But McClennan clearly misunderstood the reaction, thinking Chu Guang was shocked by the Army’s tactics, and the smirk on his face grew even more smug. “Griffin isn’t an idiot. Of course he would have made preparations for the Heart of Steel to be used!”

“I thought you would drop ground troops as soon as you entered Oasis No.2. Didn’t expect you to be this reckless after all.”

“I’ll admit, I was a bit surprised. We assumed that even if Griffin was prepared, it would be nearly impossible to intercept the Heart of Steel before we were within 50 kilometers of the capital... But he made his move a dozen kilometers earlier than expected.” Ignoring McClennan’s sneer, Chu Guang paused for a moment, a trace of disappointment appearing on his face. “But that’s not good enough. I expected something more impressive from your countermeasures... Never thought your trump card would be a bunch of balloons.”

The war was nearly over anyway, so probing the Army’s last trump card wasn’t a bad idea. If another conflict arose in the future, it would be good to be prepared.

He had wanted to see what hidden ace Griffin had kept for the Heart of Steel, only to find out it was merely balloons.

All that cautious planning before was completely wasted.

McClennan’s face flushed red. He looked like he wanted to argue back, but then realized it might be a trap to make him talk, so he held his tongue. "Heh... You really think it takes some powerful weapon to deal with you? Once it’s lost mobility, that thing’s just a sitting duck."

Chu Guang looked at him in mock surprise. "Huh? You knew all it took was balloons to stop you and you’re a sitting duck once the Heart of Steel lost mobility?”

McClennan froze. He didn’t get it at first, but when he did, his face visibly darkened. His lips trembled. He was furious, but unable to utter a word.

Watching the dramatic expression shift, Chu Guang chuckled and taunted, "I thought you had forgotten all about what happened at Lucky Valley Municipality. Turns out it just slipped your mind for a while."

Finod turned his gaze away, unable to bear watching any longer.

Being humiliated by the enemy...

Was that man really the General McClennan he once knew?

Ignoring the fuming, speechless McClennan, Chu Guang turned his gaze outside the bridge, to the sea of clouds and balloons drifting below.

The Storm Corps had already completed their deployment.

According to intelligence gathered by the Skeleton Corps in Bist Town, they would begin sabotaging key roads and industrial infrastructure throughout the Falcon Kingdom.

The Goblin Corps stationed at Bist Town would coordinate with them. Chu Guang had deployed enough W-2 Mosquito attack aircraft and 100 kilogram bombs there to support the operation.

They were confident they could cripple the Falcon Kingdom’s industry and infrastructure, ensuring the kingdom wouldn’t recover for a decade, engraving this defeat into their very bones.

As for the air raid on Falcon City...

He had entrusted it to the New Alliance’s strongest unit, the Burning Corps.

Those fools who were made up of awakeners fully equipped with exoskeletons. They would deliver a heavy blow to the supply-starved Falcon troops, who could barely scrape together a few automatic weapons. They would finish the war with one final strike.

A faint smile rose on Chu Guang’s lips. "Now it’s up to you."

...

At the same time,

On the deck of the Heart of Steel, cold wind howled.

Looking at Gale sitting in the cockpit, and then at the plane itself, nothing more than a windshield with no canopy, Old White stood frozen for a while before cautiously asking, "You... sure about this?"

Gale, whos hand gripped the control stick, blinked. "Sure about what?"

Old White laughed bitterly, "No offense, bro. I’m just wondering... When did you learn how to fly?"

He could buy Mosquito flying a plane... That guy had died enough times to crash course himself into being a pilot.

But Gale...?

A pure intelligence type who’s barely even touched a plane before...?

Gale stared blankly at Old White, who still hadn’t climbed aboard, and after a long pause, asked in return, "When did I ever say I knew how to fly?"

"???"

Night Ten, sitting at the rear machine gun, chimed in with a grin. "Don’t listen to the old man. We actually practiced a bit while you were away. In fact, we flew a few times! It’s really not as hard as you think."

Old White couldn’t help but ask, "A few times?"

Gale thought for a moment and answered, "Three, probably."

"..."

"Trust me, bro." Gale gave a thumbs up with a serious face. "We’re really good at flying."

Seeing that earnest expression staring straight at him, Old White stayed silent for a long while before finally sighing and stepping into the open cockpit.

"Alright..."

Worst case, it’s a three day cooldown.

He had already kept his exoframe somewhere safe. If he died, the only thing he would regret was the exoskeleton worth 10,000 silver he had changed to.

Looking around the crude cockpit, Old White felt something was off and cautiously asked:

"Wait a second... Mosquito made this thing again?! Wasn’t it a W-2 version?”

Gale replied casually, "This is the W-1A Mosquito. It’s a modified version of the W-1. Now it seats three. We tested it and it can handle an extra passenger without much issue. You probably didn’t hear from the rear, but we only got our hands on these a few days ago."

As it turned out... It was a modified version of the W-1...

No wonder there were so many of them.

Old White glanced at the swarm of aircraft on the deck behind him. For some reason, he wasn’t surprised at all.

The only thing was... The design of each aircraft gave him a bad feeling.

Although he returned to the frontlines a few days ago, it was his first time boarding the Heart of Steel. Gale had been acting commander of the Storm Corps in the meantime, and the operation was under his command.

Still, Old White had studied the mission briefing thoroughly.

They were to glide past Falcon City’s air defenses with cover from the Goblin Corps’ W-2 attack crafts, land in the city alongside the air raid bombs. They would then take the royal palace.

Originally, he thought the pilots from the Goblin Corps would fly the transport planes and drop them in. He hadn’t expected that they would have to fly them themselves.

While he trusted Gale wouldn’t screw him over, and no one would joke around on a mission so important, Old White still asked carefully, "So what exactly was modified for the W-1A?"

Gale answered casually, "He lengthened the body and wingspan... Right, he also removed the engine."

"Oh..." Old White, unfamiliar with aircraft, nodded blankly. Then he jolted. "Wait, wait, wait! What the fuck did he remove?!”

Gale didn’t answer. Instead, he looked out the cockpit, signaling to a few strength type players helping nearby.

“Wind speed is good. Ready to launch!”

The newbie beside the plane grinned and returned a sign, then pulled out a lighter and lit two forearm-thick rockets strapped to the plane’s rear.

Blazing flames erupted from the tail and the massive thrust launched the glider forward. The wings trembled violently as Old White’s heart leapt to his throat.

“Holy shit?! Are you serious?!”

He would rather parachute than ride the damn plane powered by rockets!

But unlike him, Gale’s eyes gleamed with excitement. That usually deadpan face now sparkled with rare madness.

It was the first time he had done anything so fun in his life! Not to mention the fact that he was doing it with his brothers!

"Trust me. I did the math... we’ll make it." Pulling down the visor of his helmet, he gripped the control stick tightly. "Hold on tight!"