Sovereign

And just like that, he dropped like hell down below, straight under the clouds - where a massive furball of dozens of aircraft, both from Orland and Larissa, dueled each other in a dance of death and fire.

Wild maneuvers and desperate pulls that almost left him winded from the extreme gs produced were conducted by him, as he tried his best to keep his nose pointed at the wild ZU-34.

Numerous times, he almost had a lock, before the thing slipped from his hands - yet his hands never slipped from the Zapper's controls, unrelenting for the kill that he deserved.

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Another distant boom flashed his airframe brightly, yet he paid no heed, as he pulled his stick down once more.

<<1-5 is down!>>

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No, he would not. He needed this kill. He would not return to the Rebenslof without his fifth kill. This was his destiny. He was either a nobody or today, he would be an ace.

Another hard pull and his plane chased the ZU-34 up - finally, for merely 4 seconds, his nose tracked the ZU-34 directly, enough for the words "Lock" to appear on his HUD.

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And with that, his final air-to-air missile launched forward, its heat-seeking guidance hungrily chasing the ZU-34's red-hot exhaust nozzles.

It went in close, as the ZU-34 pulled another high-g turn to dodge it - a massive deployment of flares appearing close behind. It almost confused the missile, but-

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…

"Dammit! Why are they not dead yet!"

DAMMIT! DAMMIT WHY?!

The Empress wasn't enjoying these results, as she watched the screens with wide eyes, her fist on the table. Behind her, the group of officers and her Imperial Knights watched with caution - for they feared offending the irritated Empress.

"STATUS REPORT! What the hell is happening?!"

"Your Majesty. The 3rd Imperial Air Squadron has been decimated. The 4th is fleeing in haste with heavy casualties. But the 7th is fast approaching."

"YOU'RE TELLING ME, WE WOULD NOW SPEND 3 WHOLE SQUADRONS FOR ONE OF THEIRS?! WHAT KIND OF PILOTS DO WE HAVE AROUND HERE?!"

She was beyond livid. How could her attack see so many casualties? It was simply impossible. She wasn't just angry about the failed attacks - she was angry at herself and the officers around her for losing so many lives.

She may have sacrificed millions already for her throne, but she didn't want anymore. Yet again and again, whenever she took charge of those incompetent officers - her plans would crumble.

Her brilliant plans - plans to pave paths to victory without more needless death, merely causing more.

What could she do?

What could she do?

She didn't know. Somehow, she was losing. Her entire operation to sink the carrier of that cursed man - was crumbling before her.

No…no…no. This cannot be! Dammit, if I lose, my head…my head. Orland, you've already fallen. You should have lost already. Orland…why are you still fighting me? Albert? Why? Why are you still here? You should have packed up to save your damned sister. But you're here - FIGHTING ME TO DEATH? JUST SURRENDER OR FLEE FOR GODDESS' SAKE!

"Your Majesty." She looked back, her eyes filled with fear, fury, and anxiety to the Comms Officer. "The enemy squadron…they are retreating?"

"Why? Is this another ploy of theirs?"

"No…our AWACS reported that they have expended most if not all of their missiles."

This was her chance then. Those Orlish aces - they weren't replaceable. She smelled blood.

"Then order the 7th to push on. I want those Orlish planes down within a few minutes. AT ALL COSTS!"

…

"Well, they have no other choice then." Captain Vogel commented as the green signatures on the screen of VFA-13 began retreating back to the direction of the Rebenslof.

Albert continued to watch and monitor the entire battlespace - the brutal dogfight already taking dozens of Larissan planes from the skies.

Unfortunately, 3 Orlish pilots from VFA-13 had their wings clipped in the skirmish. Losses were unavoidable, but it still made Albert feel ashamed.

But costs are a part of war. Victory without countless deaths is impossible. I should have learned that already.

Suddenly, multiple red signatures appeared angrily - hot on VFA-13's tails.

Seems like the Empress would not budge. My squadron is pretty vulnerable at the moment. Indeed, perfect time for her to continue her strike.

It wasn't ideal. The Rebenslof was counting on the fact that the Larissan air squadrons wouldn't pursue nor even engage them much. The plan relied on them pouring all to destroy the Olivia in order to give both VFA-13 and VFA-18 a perfect window to snoop down - and wipe their air squadrons off the face of Pollos.

"Commodore?"

"Yes, Captain Schlatt?"

"What are your orders, sir?"

It would appear that a good chunk of their operation had already failed. But he did have a backup - no officer in a war didn't. Truthfully, the complete annihilation of the Larissan air squadrons was only a best-case scenario.

If I kept VFA-18 on their current attack run, I might lose VFA-13. Of course…then I would have to rely on the Lorathians to intercept them before they reach the Olivia. The only question is - can they?

Even with the deployment of VACCOM's best air squadrons today, he didn't place his bets on the Lorathian pilots. They weren't bad - but they were almost equal in skill to the Larissans.

Which meant a long dogfight. A slog of equals in the skies - not the utter domination and decimation unleashed by VFA-13, or what VFA-18 could unleash.

But I'm not letting my aces and veteran pilots go down for nothing. Goddess save the Olivia - she would have to rely on her countrymen this time.

"Divert VFA-18 to support VFA-13. Do not make me lose my valuable pilots. And signal Alfast HQ that we are proceeding with Plan B."

"At once, Commodore."

…

"ALERT! HOSTILE CONTACTS SPOTTED WEST OF THE STRIKE GROUP!"

The sudden alarm caught Katerina's ears, as her eyes darted from the ongoing battle with the Orlish squadrons straight to the signatures of her three air squadrons approaching the Orlish fleet.

West of them, red dots appeared - like a swarm of locusts ready to pounce her strike group before they reached the Rebenslof.

"What the hell?! Why haven't we spotted them?"

"The storm, Your Majesty. They hid from our radars."

"How could they hide 2 squadrons behind a bunch of blasted clouds? What kind of radars are we using?!"

The Comms Officer didn't reply, as he merely stood still. Katerina's eyes almost twitched, before he spoke again.

"But, right now, the battle is developing. We need your orders."

Yes, that was right. She could chastise who must be chastised for this absolute incompetence later. For now, she had to focus on the battle.

And win it.

She looked at the screens. She had three squadrons headed straight for the Orlish fleet. She knew that the 8th was the only squadron fully armed with anti-ship cruise missiles and nothing else.

But that meant that even alone, the 8th Imperial Air Squadron packed a lethal punch.

That's it! I just need to divert the other 2 to deal with the newcomers. Protect the 8th at all costs…then I'll dine in Redcastle soon.

"Send the 1st and 2nd Imperial Air Squadrons to intercept those vagrants from the west. I want the 8th protected at all costs - until their missiles are launched. Is that clear?"

"Crystal, Your Majesty. I'm transmitting your orders."

…

They were all lined up for their attack run. The 8th Imperial Air Squadron, composed of 14 ZU-34s were all armed with 4 Devastator Cruise Missiles - the Larissan standard choice whenever they needed to vanquish their naval foes.

The skies cried and cried - as thunder lit up the seas and their airframes around them. The entire battle had been beyond costly for them.

Yet this was their only choice if they wanted to win. To strike now. Yet, many doubted their Empress, especially when she suddenly took full control.

<<8-1 Actual. What if this is a trap?>>

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It was a pointless struggle - to serve an Empress who didn't care for their blood. They didn't bother any further, as they finally launched their cruise missiles.

A majestic sight of beauty, just as they finally turned around.

They would not bother to get any closer.

Like an angry swarm of hornets, dozens after dozens of cruise missiles raged toward their targets. Nothing stood in their way - or at least, none from the Rebenslof's air wing or the Lorathian emergency air squadrons.

But they didn't have stealth. Within moments, ship-based radar emissions from the Olivia's escorts slammed into the missiles - the four Orlish destroyers finally spotting them.

One after another, the VLS cells of the Orlish destroyers opened up, as SAM air defense missiles rose up in quick successions - determined to defend the Olivia.

Detonations after detonations blotted the skies, as Orlish and Lorathian missiles met each other in a struggle of differing objectives - the Orlish SAMs attempting to eliminate them before they reached the Olivia, while the Larissan cruise missiles tried to survive and reach her.

And then - the red hot tracers of the ship-mounted RPDSs opened up, further blotting the skies with detonations.

But then - the Olivia buckled as her stern exploded, then another amidships. Beside the battleship, two Orlish destroyers screeched to a brutal halt as their hulls exploded in a fiery hail of steel and fire.

For many moments, the sea seemed still as the Olivia listed to her side, water gushing in inside. But then - a massive detonation from one of her old, outdated, and gigantic main guns in her bow. Lit up like a candle, the brilliant explosion nearly shook the surviving destroyers beside her.

Yet none of it mattered. The Olivia was not the Rebenslof.

…

"Sir! CIC reports that the Olivia's magazines detonated. She is sunk. The ONS Driver and the ONS Exalt also reported heavy damage. The Exalt itself is sinking rapidly."

Albert's fist almost slammed into the table, but he controlled his urge to do so, even when his anger lingered. Two Orlish destroyers, and the Olivia - gone, in one fell swoop.

But what can we do? Sacrifices have to be made. It could have been my ships. This is just a part of the plan.

"Their squadrons are also retreating en masse."

Captain Vogel's report fell silent, and so did the bridge, as they all awaited for his next command.

Push on. We have to end this war here and now. I just hope that she will come to her senses, eventually.

He turned around to face both Captain Schlatt and Captain Vogel.

"Gentlemen, we shall proceed to the next phase of the plan. Signal Admiral Herard Tresckow to begin full-on surface engagements. We'll cut her down now."

Vogel nodded.

"So be it then."

"Oh…and open me a line to the Empress, directly."

"Sir?"

"I want to send her a message. A message she won't forget until she finally raises her white flag."