NOVEL NEXT Interlude: NCS Dauntless
Commodore Sophia Williams was a woman of steel and iron. She was tall and slender, with short, silver hair that was always neatly trimmed. She looked like a woman half her age, but she had seen more action than most people would see in their entire lives. She had served the world faithfully for decades, and she had seen the Terra change in ways that few could imagine.
For twenty years, the connection established with her sister planet had fostered a technological revolution the likes of which the world had never seen. Magitech, the fusion of magic and technology, was the driving force behind the massive changes that had swept across the world. Everything from communications and agriculture to weapons and armor had been transformed, and the world was a very different place from what it had been just a decade ago.
And she was proud to say her brilliant genius of a husband had played no small part in it. As crass and as eccentric he was, he was a good man, and she loved him dearly. He was always there for her and their son, and she was grateful for his support. He was the rock that kept her grounded, the anchor that kept her from drifting away. He was the love of her life, and she knew that he would always be there for her.
Her hands tightened on the railing of the observation deck on the bridge of the Northern Coalition flagship, the NSC Dauntless, as she watched the chaos below.
She was a woman of action, a leader of men and women.
And right now, she felt nothing but anger and frustration.
Sophia had seen the footage from the city, and she knew that this was no ordinary Chaos Event. She briefly looked down at her satellite phone, the screen displaying her last seventeen outgoing calls - all of them unanswered.
She took a deep breath and slipped her phone back into her pocket. She couldn't let that bother her right now. She had to focus on the task at hand. She had to do her job, and she had to do it well. She could only hope Spencer was safe and sound and taking cover. He was a smart boy, but the city was turning into a death trap.
"Ma'am, we're ready to launch the first wave of reinforcements," a voice said from behind her.
"Captain Okwaho, what's the status of the F-47s?" Sophia asked without turning around.
"They're ready to fly, ma'am. We've got three squadrons ready to go, and we're prepping the rest," the captain replied.
"Good. Launch them immediately. Get them in the air and get them moving," Sophia ordered. "The mechanized companies below need air support. We can't let them be overrun. Not while we still have a chance to turn this thing around."
"Yes, ma'am," the captain replied. "Right away."
Sophia turned to look at the deck below, where the F-47s were ready for takeoff. She could see the pilots and crew running around, preparing their planes for launch.
The Dauntless and the F-47s were the product of nearly twenty years of collaboration between Terran and Earthborn engineers and scientists, and they were among the most advanced and deadly weapons ever created. Aerial chaos beasts only appeared in the highest magnitude Chaos Events, so they were normally only deployed when the situation was dire.
And today, it was.
The F-47s were largely piloted by Earthborn humans, who had a greater affinity with the magitech cores on average despite their comparatively weak mana pools. It was a mystery how her husband's famous invention - the Enki Core, adapted to individual pilots. But it was observed early on that Terrans seemed to have greater synergy with the Aeolus-class mechs, while Earthborn humans were far better suited for the fighters on aerage. Both used the cores in conjunction with a special type of magical alloy developed by the Archon Project.
Sophia could only hope that it would be enough. She knew the F-47s would be able to provide relief, but she also knew that they were no match for a Duke-class chaos beast
"Where's that damned dragon now, Captain?" Sophia asked.
"Last seen heading towards the city center, ma'am. It was engaged by SS-Rank Magical Girl Celestial Sonata and S-Rank Magical Girl Seraphina, but the beast has proven to be too powerful for them to deal with in their compromised state," the captain reported.
"Damn," Sophia cursed. "Any word on the Magitech Paratroopers units that were dispatched?"
"The first wave is due to execute a jump any minute now, ma'am," the captain replied. "They've primed their Promethean Cores if... if necessary."
Sophia tightened her fists. Although Magitech Troopers were considered expendable in comparison to a Magical Girl, they were still her soldiers. If the combination of Celestial Sonata and Seraphina couldn't handle the dragon, then the Paratroopers were their last hope.
She sighed, looking out the observation deck. The sky was a swirling mass of dark clouds and thick smoke, and she could see the faint glow of balefire in the distance. It was a terrible sight, and she knew that the situation was getting worse.
She glanced at her phone again and then shook her head.
Please be safe, Spencer. My plucky little Spike.
"Keep me updated, Captain. And have the F-47s start their first sorties. We need to provide our girls below with support," she said.
"Yes, ma'am."
She watched as the F-47s lifted off, their engines rumbling as they began to ascend. She could see their cannons and rocket launchers swiveling, and their wings flapping as they gained altitude. They were magnificent machines, and she could feel a surge of pride as they roared overhead and turned to descend into the fray.
Flying chaos beasts ranged in size from man-sized to the size of an apartment building like the dragon below. Even Knight-class flying beasts were considered extremely dangerous because they were so mobile. They could fly and maneuver at speeds and in ways that traditional aircraft from Earth were unable to.
However, the innovations from the Archon Project, such as the Merope-class F-47 fighters, were designed to combat this threat. They were lighter, faster, and more maneuverable than traditional aircraft, and they were capable of firing a wide variety of munitions, including missiles and aerial cluster bombs. They also had point defense drones mounted on their wings, which could fire bursts of magical energy to destroy enemy projectiles.
But as advanced as they were, Sophia knew that they were no match for a Duke-class.
"Captain, what's the status on the Dauntless's primary and secondary weapons systems?" she asked.
"Primary systems are operational, ma'am. Secondary systems are in standby mode. We're ready to engage at a moment's notice," the captain replied.
"Good," Sophia said. "Keep an eye on the situation, Captain. If we need to intervene, we will. The safety of the Magical Girls is paramount."
She frowned, staring at the feeds from a building near the Duke's last location. The Dauntless's primary cannon was too powerful to be haphazardly used in the middle of a city, but it was their trump card.
The NSC Dauntless was a massive flying fortress, nearly 200 meters long, and it was armed with a variety of weapons, including railguns, missile launchers, and a magitech core-powered particle beam cannon. It was the most powerful and advanced warship ever created by humanity, and it was capable of engaging even the strongest chaos beasts. It felt like it'd only been yesterday when Jacob had excitedly declared the era of Magical Girls obsolete.
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Of course, he had been a little too optimistic in his claims. While the Dauntless and her sister ships had been a significant boon in the struggle against the monsters, they weren't the silver bullet everyone had hoped for.
Even the flying fortress she was currently standing on had its limitations, and any of the more deadly Duke-class chaos beasts and S-Rank Magical Girls could theoretically down one if given the chance.
The Dauntless's primary weapon, the Hammer of Olympus, was capable of firing a focused beam of condensed mana that could melt through even the toughest materials. It was incredibly powerful, but it was also incredibly destructive.
If the situation called for it, though, she wouldn't hesitate to fire it.
"Captain, have the gunnery teams stay on alert. We may have to deploy the Olympus Cannon," Sophia ordered.
"Yes, ma'am."
Sophia nodded and then turned her attention back to the monitors.
The sky was dark and foreboding, and the city was burning. The scene on the monitors was almost too surreal to believe, but she knew that this was the reality.
This was her normal. Her long, storied career in the military had placed her in situations time and again.
"Captain, keep me posted. I want to know the moment something changes. Anything. Understood?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Commodore Sophia Williams had a reputation for being cold and calculating, but in truth, she cared deeply about the soldiers under her command as well as the people below.
She sighed and ran a hand through her silver hair.
I'm getting too old for this.
"What's the status of the evacuation downtown, Captain?" she asked, changing the subject.
"Ninety-two percent complete, ma'am," the captain reported. "The local garrison is sweeping the last few blocks now with Draupnir units. The large number of Magical Girls present during the surprise attack were able to contain the initial damage, and they're still holding the line, but casualties are expected to be high."
"Civilian casualties are always high during major urban Chaos Events," Sophia said grimly. "But we'll do what we can to minimize them. What's the status of the rest of the city?"
"Slower than downtown," the captain replied. "But they've got the numbers and the experience to deal with this. The only thing I'm worried about is the number of young Magical Girls stationed here. Their loss would be... catastrophic."
Sophia nodded.
S-Rank Magical Girls were the most powerful and experienced members of their class, and they were responsible for dealing with the most dangerous chaos beasts and monsters.
But the A-Ranks were no slouches either. They were the next step down, and they were no less valuable or important.
Even a typical Tier 1 City like Shoreline City would be lucky to have one or two S-Rank Magical Girls and ten to fifteen A-Rank Magical Girls.
It was rare for a Magnitude 8 Chaos Event to land on a city like this. It was even rarer to be caught by total surprise. And a Duke in play could mean astronomical casualties. Especially with their resident S-Ranks far from fighting form.
"The NSC Arcturus is en route to assist with the evacuation efforts, ma'am. ETA is fifteen minutes," the captain said.
"Good. We need to get those people out of here before things get any worse," Sophia said.
She frowned, watching the monitors and listening to the reports.
The situation was getting worse by the minute, and she knew that time was running out. The nearest reinforcements were likely several hours away, and the situation could change dramatically in that time.
She clenched her jaw.
Then, she tapped her fingers on her phone again, and the screen came on.
A single line was displayed.
"No Signal."
She sighed and closed her eyes, taking a deep breath.
Commodore Sophia Williams was considered the best field commander in the Northern Coalition. She had led the Alliance forces to victory through campaigns against multiple Dukes, and she had commanded the Dauntless and its fleet in countless battles.
She had a reputation for being tough and ruthless, but she was also fair and just. She was known for her ability to adapt and innovate in the face of changing circumstances, and she had a keen tactical mind.
But right now, she felt completely and utterly helpless.
She was used to being in control, and this situation was anything but. She had no way of getting a complete picture of the situation with the amount of initial damage the balefire had done, and the situation was rapidly deteriorating. She couldn't predict the chaos beasts' behavior, and she couldn't plan accordingly.
She was flying blind, and it was making her crazy.
And worst of all, her son was down there, trapped in the middle of it all.
Suddenly, the sound of static filled the room, and a girlish voice crackled over the speakers. It had a posh, British accent, and it sounded both mature and mischievous at the same time.
"Sophia, Sophia. Always the reliable and dependable, huh? It's been a while, hasn't it? You're looking rather lonely out there standing over this dumpster. Would you care for some company? I have a delightful tea set and hot scones here, and I'd love to share."
Sophia blinked and turned towards the captain, who shrugged in response.
"Who is this? Identify yourself," Sophia snapped.
"Oh, come on, you don't recognize my voice?" the girl said with a giggle. "I figure you wouldn't. I was just a cadet the last time you saw me after all. Pardon me for the scare. My dearest subordinates wanted to test ther skills against your husband's encryption systems."
It was true that the voice sounded familiar, but she couldn't place it. She had met so many people over the years that it was impossible to keep track of them all.
"Well, whoever you are, now is not the time for games. This is a Code Black Chaos Event, and I am not in the mood for-"
"Relax, relax. I was wondering why my dearest grandmother sent me this way with enough vessels and men to quash a full-blown rebellion of the Protectorate's forces. Turns out, it was for you," the girl giggled.
"Grandmother?"
"Yes, yes. Well, she's a bit eccentric, isn't she? She has this thing about collecting her favorite grandchildren and-"
"Grandchildren?!" Sophia sputtered.
"Yes, yes. We can talk about my bizarre family reunions later. I'm calling because I'm here. On site. Just a hop and a skip away ♪."
The screen in front of her flickered, and then an image appeared.
It was a small girl wearing a British admiral's uniform, and she had a playful smirk on her face. Her hair was long and pure white, and her eyes were bright and blue. She was sitting in the captain's chair of a warship, and the bridge was filled with people.
"Greetings, Soph! You've aged gracefully, haven't you? It's been a long time since we last spoke."
Sophia's jaw dropped, and she could hardly believe her eyes.
The girl was unmistakable. Her features were exactly the same as they had been years ago.
"Elaine?! Is that really you?"
The girl - or rather woman - smiled.
Sophia frowned.
Even as she watched the woman, her eyes were drawn to the coat of arms on her chest.
"I think a proper introduction is in order, don't you? Let me introduce myself properly to your men this time."
She chuckled, leaning on a golden staff.
"Admiral Elenitsa Escathos, at your service. I've brought half my armada with me. Grandmother thought it'd be prudent. And what's more..."
She coughed, clearing her throat, before scrambling off her chair and running off screen. She returned moments later, dragging a tall, redheaded girl with her.
The girl was dressed in an officer's coat. She had a bored expression on her face, and she was clearly unhappy to be dragged along by the smaller woman.
"Ta-da ♪! I'm sure my old friend here needs no introductions."
The woman was wearing a Celtic knot crown, and she had a large lance the size of a flagpole strapped to her back. Her hair was a fiery red, and her eyes were a vivid emerald green. But it was the way she carried herself that drew the attention. She had an aura about her that seemed to command respect and admiration. Every movement was graceful and precise, and every gesture was filled with confidence. It was like she had full certainty that the world was hers.
She was breathtakingly beautiful, with sharp eyes and a strong, angular jawline. It even felt like a smoldering fire was burning in her chest just at a first glance. Sophia had never seen a Magical Girl like this before. Not even the likes of Seraphina could compare to her presence from god knows how many miles away.
Sophia's mouth dropped open at the sight of the living legend, and the captain's jaw hit the floor.
"Now, as much as I'd love to sit down for that tea and chat, we've got a bit of a mess on our hands, don't we?" Elaine asked, glancing at the monitors. "Let's get to work, shall we? Time is of the essence, as they say."
She grinned, her eyes twinkling with mischief.
"Oh, and before I forget. Grandmother said you'd find your precious little Spike at these coordinates, dear."
Sophia looked at her phone, and the screen flashed, displaying a series of numbers.
"Elaine! Don't tell me-"
"I know, I know. Grandmother and her proclivity for spoiling the plot. But hey, at least you won't be going mad over his safety, right?"
"How did she even-"
"She has her ways," Elaine replied, tapping her temple. "Just trust her, and she'll pull through for us. Now, if you'll excuse me, Rhi Rhi and I have a dragon to slay."
The transmission ended, and Sophia looked at the captain for a long moment. She'd been too distracted to notice before, but the young captain's expression was that of reverence and awe.
"Is it... was... was that really her?" the captain asked, his voice filled with wonder.
"It would appear so," Sophia said, shaking her head.
There was a long pause, and then the captain said, "You know, er..."
He hesitated.
"If so... I almost feel sorry for that Duke-class," he muttered.
Sophia looked at him and raised an eyebrow.
Then, she laughed and shook her head.
He was right.
The dragon was the least of their worries now.