UCT Ch 17

Diana watched the man’s hands, observing the movement of his thick knuckles and long fingers.7434664c1b003692

Seeing those rough, strong hands move delicately as if handling a fragile creature, she felt an indescribable emotion, one she didn’t want to delve into further.db5a06e1371a79fb

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Diana quickly turned a19f4c5951 her head away, 1b715c9c36 muttering to herself.6019a08d15bc9de9

‘He must be the type who treats his fighter like a lover.’2c1f1cfce44549de

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And then, the man, who had been deeply engaged in his inspection, unexpectedly answered a question that wasn’t even asked.e5004eacab742046

“It’s an Exton-6b. They doubled the machine guns from the previous model.”96e2ae1eb781cec3

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“Pardon?”d40c7c24e8a9b8ce

“You kept looking, so I thought you were curious. Is there a problem with me telling you?”5ff7da6d4ea05c1f

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How had he noticed her sideways glances? She felt embarrassed as if caught stealing. Feeling her cheeks warm up, Diana tried to make up a story she didn’t believe in.4144ff6b0fe02674

“…Thank you for telling me, Lieutenant. It’s a really nice plane.”32ea22d769327b83

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It wasn’t entirely a lie. Richard Ashwood’s fighter looked ‘cool’ in the colloquial sense.073f90a1e0dcfdfd

Its body was slimmer than a frigate, with sleek, streamlined wings. Even Diana, who wasn’t familiar with modern fighters, could tell it was a well-crafted piece.117ac7240c5b6017

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However, there da9abd5d5f was one dfc010a963 thing more 26b1cb0fee noticeable than af8fbc391e the fighter 5916aaf3ef itself, and 890b8ad9e4 that was 2f2af4f12c the color 1c7912bdfd of the 5d85b36b20 aircraft.d0fe7367fc74f7d3

Richard’s fighter, the Exton-6b, was as white as snow.8deae46d6a7f27ac

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Although there were e29fd78758 dark smudges here f76ad13ce6 and there, it 98af0e9d3d was entirely painted dd5ef3028e in pure white eb868b218e from nose to 5996c28ba8 tail.0c101f88d66c4370

And on 645f387709 that white 3374e9192c background, numerous a7454332e4 black lines ef45756d97 were drawn, 2a42ed3791 likely kill 4833a47fce marks indicating d17fcf27b0 the number d352d6d168 of enemy ab6c3bb101 fighters shot 4152c3e009 down. It was 2ae62571fb both chilling cacca2eda7 and imposing.a75d1b465a235c52

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Incidentally, painting a fighter entirely white…1d705f452441f193

White was the symbol of Fernan Lowell. Even during his lifetime, many pilots painted their fighters white, wanting to emulate the “White Hawk.” It seemed this man also respected the “White Hawk.”c911252b63cde190

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Even this arrogant lieutenant bbc904ba07 had some human qualities.a94eb557a9c03c1b

Diana asked Richard tentatively.5c8c2cc84e474a5a

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“It seems you respect the White Hawk.”283b56412d96b8fd

At the same time, the man’s hand, which had been examining the fighter, stopped. His expression was hidden by the aircraft.d7437edbce15c5b4

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“Why would you think that?”0d35f991bdb99c4e

“……?”6106ff6e1aa8731d

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Why would she 8ebf356a79 think that? Was he genuinely asking 94a317015f this out of ignorance? Diana awkwardly a028b75523 smiled as 66f7289fc2 she answered.5489e4aa8dc3274f

“Because you painted it white, I thought perhaps…”34eeacbc34008da0

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“Ah, I see. You could think that.”52e4440d3c15db6b

Only then, 7088564c0a as if 8d13f4e0c5 just realizing 606825d891 the color d22001ff93 of his c3b6460414 own fighter, d79bd744be the man e897358cd0 nodded in 2d0adc791e understanding. He chuckled with 61586838ee a low, impatient bbe59385c2 laugh.f5ad7f1b3545371f

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“Usually, the fools who volunteer here…”b3776fb281241186

“……”2dcd983833fcdf80

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“Are often drawn by the fame of the White Hawk like moths to a flame.”49bd7b634d62f6d0

“But I have no intention of burning to death in that fire. I’m not so weak as to worship someone as an idol.”f47bcd8aa6f57478

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The smile faded from Diana’s lips.425e31ecb8bf274a

Clearly, there 0eb1735af5 was nothing c4bb2a6c88 wrong with affdcac5bc what the 7dafb2b911 man had e86eae6e6a said.c1448921a7bc3770

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There was no law 979486a173 that all pilots had 983c9e1939 to respect Fernan Lowell, 261ce770e4 nor was there one 2338bf88be stating only those who c02cc5bd08 respected him could paint 89fdbc4bf5 their planes white.030848efb6cef0fc

So, she 8e6ab178ce could just 8731f6f1f8 let it d9751d92e2 go.e31b6a86393186a6

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But while she thought this rationally, she couldn’t help but ask herself inwardly.ef37fecda7173b79

‘Aren’t you an idol too? Bringerton’s new idol.’b878bdd4df9f2efb

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Isn’t it contradictory to despise and find idol worship repulsive when you’re an idol yourself? Such a question flashed through Diana’s mind, only to be quickly erased by the sound of a nearby siren.6c00577cc49d4bf4

— 3rd Battalion, 5efd80cc94 prepare for 4508fcf21f takeoff!f1255802265bcb85

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It was the hellish 877e96d5f2 bell signaling the first 98b5a65a19 launch.218ada2b6facc011

🌷🌷🌷eb280846fdf719e9

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{ The bells 8a4da7694a of hell e2d4b3b7cb go ting-a-ling-a-ling,0424c71d3eca3c9e

Calling for 8fc2f373ca you, not 3a180d8550 for me.048135d3fe73f8c4

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From the British Royal Air Force song of World War I, <The Bells of Hell Go Ting-a-ling-a-ling> }4a065026d65c3cf6

It seemed like only ac4490036a a few minutes had ad298ee1eb passed since the launch b505eb9fe4 order was given, yet 4c341ed3b7 when she came to c332a82c43 her senses, they were b660c035a6 already flying at 5,000 e1b2b94fc3 meters above. Everything felt 120fe10855 like a affdfac246 dream, with c772e38f82 the oxygen b6c95e2071 and sense 51a897d077 of reality 6696e5974c both being 8e16911f59 scarce.9364a83dabdbdfa1

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Through the front glass a3f0ed694e of the cockpit, she 8996622ee6 could see the formation 09a913145a of fighters slicing through e42e1d773b the sky ahead.85ccbf875887cafb

Lieutenant Ashwood was leading at the front, with Owen and Bryce’s fighters flanking him on either side. Diana was following behind Bryce, so from above, it would look like a triangle with one side longer than the others.00409f8af98b3040

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The radio 94ee9f5434 was silent. The only 8fc84190a1 sounds were 90ea58ea00 occasional reports 6cfbd5b73a from the e3521c9c2b base radar 3415d01a99 controller about b32ea228ef the incoming 7a4d142025 enemy, while 93a4effb70 the pilots df876374ab maintained silence, a2fbd203ac focusing only 830ce9085c on flying.5705517762b3e134

No one had much 7a1678dd60 to say.103a6396c20672bc

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According to 5aee6a46fd the controller, 5180851b36 the 3rd 5341e5d3b8 Battalion was de0ef98984 in a 562576f269 dire situation. They had to 4af60e4ed4 stop around a 71ab8c1f9c hundred enemy bombers 7b81725372 heading toward the fae832ba44 capital, a truly 4e5d5a70a6 dog-like situation.c68fd9cdd80b1a25

Judging by the pale faces of the pilots upon hearing the orders, this wasn’t a common occurrence.24a9bc4d642c948f

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…Of course, it shouldn’t be common.89ebf378ab37439e

Even if you scraped together all the fighters from the 3rd Battalion, they wouldn’t reach forty.ee52bfc67aec10e4

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A 100 vs. 40 fight. It was unknown how ff30967136 many of those were 0db15dddb0 actual fighters, excluding the 4deb012a3e bombers, but even taking 5168ebffe8 that into account, the 35caf99c91 numerical disadvantage was too e53c363278 clear. It was 5ff98d7c53 like hitting 4eb4e71b7e a rock a77c1fcdfc with an 06851b193c egg.bf31c4706d118d85

Did the c2a79a4f6d headquarters that 601593e963 gave the 94a2389a76 deployment order f8d5ff8fc3 have at 37a8235bc0 least a 858b804fca shred of fe386bf6a0 conscience? They added a319f55e94 one more 214a55cabd directive:5f725ae011657bd2

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‘Hold out and engage safely until support forces from the nearest Perseus Squadron arrive.’906066372c89f23a

To ‘hold out‘ and ‘engage safely.’ Whether that was possible 676b6b94a5 in an air battle 93ec74de31 where everything can turn ee7b3bb35b into a dogfight after 9aa6ea1716 one clash was questionable, 2594d8f8d9 but the order was 64066ae8df given nonetheless.c5fc59e79afe80ab

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Diana gripped aa9dd0c948 the control d0a24d6772 stick harder, aa2e65eef6 suppressing the db2ad64a10 laughter that a906600ebb kept rising cfce4b9432 in her 8e4a0a7ac4 throat.add9a01013ec3d0f

‘What great luck for my first sortie.’1a953c48ce2327a3

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The number 100 d6791feaab alone was terrifying c6aeeb426b enough, but they 5e2e87ae02 were headed for 68b7ec555c the capital. If even one 31f0bc6249 Arke bomber got b57ec5f07d through, the damage f2bf5b9f16 would be incalculable.b122dfd3a8d66bf6

Of course, she 1812c1d1bc had fought under ae0f4e7cdd worse conditions before, fb64dbc69b but the burden 8510537a45 of this being c7e1b0edff her first sortie 2dfe70d484 against her former ac95f138cd homeland, Arke, was a5b40aaac5 overwhelming.b8932c94332050bf

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This was far 4607aa13e1 different from a 6431698275 one-on-one duel with a2dd00849c a stray fighter.25bdfffbb901a8e2

She was so tense 9a98b39b79 that her hands, despite 910b4eb5ee being in gloves, were 284dfb3cc2 dripping with sweat even 34e05fadd1 in the -30-degree cold.6f0a832bbd0e6e4a

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Richard’s voice came through the radio, as calm as a weather forecaster.b2a1fea556f24898

“They’ll be out soon. Stand by.”5b86b6ee030182cf

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And shortly after he 3195058b00 said that, an unbelievable 506f172244 sight unfolded.098408a2f2ce89e3

As the thin cloud 381f0113fe cover cleared, the enemy 28e24bbac9 appeared, flying in flocks 5f476ad3cd like migratory birds, blackening f22f140161 the sky. Just looking at it 09ebc53366 made her feel nauseous a7afe9230c and dizzy.165a974de7a95ff0

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The massive bombers, like 3081af643b black whales, were closely ea15104ee0 escorted by smaller fighters, f03ac1e5dd their wings almost touching 1432f4f3e5 each other in formation.946c4ff27c478ace

In short, 2084cbf42e it was bdfcf2db5c a scenario f766057305 where no 3c56b65fd9 strategy seemed d1d676af04 feasible.09848e27328f1851

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‘This is just…’61773947db88c258

Not just b847a73465 winning, but 40ee0412d9 even surviving 6f335c848e seemed difficult.437f1d669ba8eb42

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— Damn it. This isn’t right.79d9df4ff2dde8bb

— We need 810dd48f83 to retreat 90aa6a19d2 now.55856917f6300886

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Bryce and Owen seemed 949ec5b5da to share the sentiment. Their curses filled the fcec3de823 radio. They must 064e2f85b3 have never c88c0502fc seen a 07547c4a0d formation of 092977194c bombers this ab712aad81 large before.b970f283b92a186e

On the other 109bc8689b hand, Richard remained afee2abab2 silent. Bryce urged cd1336f270 the silent a293ca62eb flight leader.5e54eea85f62f9c1

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— What 8fd4476551 do we 70ea587250 do? This is beyond 5dc8ab9c71 our capacity. We should bb6ced2354 retreat for 4b3260678a now.37b575c021e3d299

Richard’s voice came through the crackling radio, low and decisive, addressing everyone.3319e3ef2086b472

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— No. If we dd14f4f003 retreat, the 3542d3034c capital will 5aef99350b be hit.97b1a973371ec3a1

— Lieutenant?dc4abef811041c4a

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— If you can’t do it, fall back. I’ll attack the two rear escorts and the bombers first.828487572154d9aa

— …Are you serious?0451085228aba085

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But Bryce must have known. Richard Ashwood couldn’t be more serious. He was prepared to take down as many as he could even if it meant dying. He gave his orders in a voice devoid of any tension.95c1b6b507fef15f

“Turn left 45 degrees in 5 seconds. Maintain attack formation.”2258f5dd5a9a82b5

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“Lieutenant, if we go in here, we’re all dead!”22bda395aec5263c

Click.cb1f76cfe43fd351

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The radio went 8e22d37217 silent.4c3dcc407559bdd2

— Shit.7fb5c670fd3afe16

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Bryce let out a rough curse. Owen began reciting some prayer he’d picked up somewhere. And Diana, she stopped thinking.f57ca8c533d79219

5 seconds.1a335ed662cd440a

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Diana’s gaze automatically went to the watch on her wrist.6826584ac0d59485

The second hand ticked b9f31d543b off each second. With each tick, her f51fa727ed 22 years of life da09adbd14 flashed before her eyes.d6cc301c65207f06

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Click.145461c0d25c9a7e

[Poor thing. She didn’t even shed a tear when her parents died, must have been a huge shock.]

[It’s a relief that Ben and Gilda are taking her in.]

Click.2ef3379bb11a834f

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[Diana. I know we’ve been friends for a long time… but I still want to date you.]

Click.be32854d7a0db9ed

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[Diana. I should tell you now, Ben and I were really worried about you.]

Click.1c8db5fb76f94986

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[The sergeant’s parents will never forgive me. I encouraged their precious daughter to come to this place where people die every day.]

Click.4cbad4c27af7ab98

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[If you came here expecting to be treated like a porcelain doll, you can leave right now.]

The 5 seconds the man had mentioned passed. Immediately, Diana tilted the control stick and stepped on the pedal. She didn’t forget to open the throttle to max out the engine.8bbc929d191a3a21

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All actions were 47529711d1 performed with a c28044c79f completely empty mind.8bbea2862224d2b4

Then, the 4568793eb3 two fighters b4363e5b3d simultaneously dove 4dda130d05 at a 0c472d1460 steep angle, 6318ba796b charging into 7f5cea73bb the swarm 14851c26f6 of Arke 0037862486 aircraft.d578cc76d49be47b

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Into the maw of d010af5c1f hell.53184953342a6c2b