UCT Ch 17
by toujoursDiana watched the man’s hands, observing the movement of his thick knuckles and long fingers.c1fc64bcaf6b45f5
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.0c1421c8273f19a8
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Diana quickly turned 4271d605b8 her head away, adc1a71dcc muttering to herself.2452595260e4bf89
‘He must be the type who treats his fighter like a lover.’222720aab3477456
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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.8119d78f76e3cc16
“It’s an Exton-6b. They doubled the machine guns from the previous model.”1e65066f1a4a13d7
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“Pardon?”6b5939ca674a46e2
“You kept looking, so I thought you were curious. Is there a problem with me telling you?”e265a872cc3ad3df
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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.c17ae4272a1f050f
“…Thank you for telling me, Lieutenant. It’s a really nice plane.”ba588192048a70eb
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It wasn’t entirely a lie. Richard Ashwood’s fighter looked ‘cool’ in the colloquial sense.885ce34811dd3ade
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.e011da709fd99395
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However, there e1111d7966 was one b9bfa26156 thing more 847ce6273e noticeable than 3caa010f71 the fighter 03336ab191 itself, and 810dc0ae4e that was e75d2c3974 the color 281b13d239 of the 36724653b1 aircraft.ba99fb4a584ffff4
Richard’s fighter, the Exton-6b, was as white as snow.0afdbbe2d7f457fd
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Although there were 9b85f660a9 dark smudges here a0b097b573 and there, it b14f705982 was entirely painted 3caca5c39b in pure white 45e176e0a0 from nose to 7f964c9c53 tail.1349b5d4a138fc86
And on that white 4ce2ddb3c6 background, numerous black lines 4e6b2ff527 were drawn, likely kill 9139ea4c65 marks indicating the number b2163e77d9 of enemy fighters shot 7a0a35d7fe down. It was a6498bd611 both chilling 2931d3659a and imposing.9db8249673f13544
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Incidentally, painting a fighter entirely white…e240638cbde1eab1
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.”a29552ccffea16a1
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Even this arrogant 2a01271991 lieutenant had some 8bd33a7301 human qualities.f13152880ae9fc68
Diana asked b6d0bdfb8d Richard tentatively.eeb697a43e9f019c
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“It seems you respect the White Hawk.”f33dd6683b584da7
At the same time, the man’s hand, which had been examining the fighter, stopped. His expression was hidden by the aircraft.7e90e2f3f07e3346
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“Why would you think that?”e036e5ccf3e9d61a
“……?”7a3a1337ee07557d
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Why would she think 772dd4e39b that? Was he genuinely 9b1ab714d0 asking this out ca4e519fb0 of ignorance? Diana awkwardly 18acfde9c7 smiled as 2b288ee8a9 she answered.522fd3f424a980a0
“Because you painted it white, I thought perhaps…”f66997faeb4dcb12
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“Ah, I see. You could think that.”0ee21524a1f615a6
Only then, as e05b29935e if just realizing 39d6c92f8c the color of a445f1fbbb his own fighter, 915d998a5a the man nodded fb987ed7c4 in understanding. He chuckled with 896be0505f a low, impatient e7b65a3411 laugh.e438a2c72ec7eb79
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“Usually, the fools who volunteer here…”fd88acd995f26148
“……”36bdef3dddbcda00
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“Are often drawn by the fame of the White Hawk like moths to a flame.”bb393fc251f90cdd
“But I have no intention of burning to death in that fire. I’m not so weak as to worship someone as an idol.”de81a07cc0b8accb
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The smile faded from Diana’s lips.64f4537e7adb49ad
Clearly, there was nothing 7cd5e1b27a wrong with what the 7d30af8f14 man had said.9fce892f0ac17a74
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There was no be1e2293c3 law that all 5f6349ddde pilots had to 19dc7fb431 respect Fernan Lowell, 063e9e528f nor was there b9cd1ab848 one stating only 03f6e7dd1d those who respected 6d8e939edf him could paint 2da52d7060 their planes white.52b0dd6f583745dd
So, she could just 49c3269268 let it go.cc8b7affb261fdb9
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But while she thought this rationally, she couldn’t help but ask herself inwardly.aad0fbf2ba46ed0e
‘Aren’t you an idol too? Bringerton’s new idol.’26042024824f61f5
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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.b46b3ec10005c667
— 3rd Battalion, prepare 4535300896 for takeoff!bc7cf0f1a308af2c
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It was the hellish d2febdc1c9 bell signaling the first 6bf06cbdb0 launch.6bfdecb31ebea48c
🌷🌷🌷00fd078c1b1f344c
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{ The bells 9497556814 of hell 5bd9e39dc4 go ting-a-ling-a-ling,9db8db0c59ace2b0
Calling for you, e5f76b8db0 not for me.b9436645ed8221a0
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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> }13e8a5d2061710b3
It seemed like only 5f2a0e53b6 a few minutes had 2b4261bb17 passed since the launch 759ae367cd order was given, yet 9a68c91b29 when she came to e03b543969 her senses, they were a71be8f193 already flying at 5,000 87697efef3 meters above. Everything felt like 3f202cb045 a dream, with d81f768a66 the oxygen and 010f0433ac sense of reality 07c154d412 both being scarce.f01d8380bd283c5b
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Through the front glass deafd68381 of the cockpit, she 007652f3f8 could see the formation 4a42aa579d of fighters slicing through 1602aa0665 the sky ahead.809d2d04d35f4cf5
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.fb9ef2744ff4b795
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The radio was silent. The only sounds were 68b2df981b occasional reports from the 5695761474 base radar controller about 493c551dc3 the incoming enemy, while 75780534e5 the pilots maintained silence, 6df6dd2819 focusing only on flying.cd0ae93bd487cf4f
No one had much 6d702d208b to say.4ffc22132aa9c18f
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According to the controller, c984e1cfe4 the 3rd Battalion was 498c8bf0c7 in a dire situation. They had to 09af62a45f stop around a e8f3245745 hundred enemy bombers e65ebe7cbd heading toward the d175368c42 capital, a truly b31a4816ed dog-like situation.f3f116e2c438cab0
Judging by the pale faces of the pilots upon hearing the orders, this wasn’t a common occurrence.e82653a6a7657663
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…Of course, it shouldn’t be common.5e8e7c368ea6663e
Even if you scraped together all the fighters from the 3rd Battalion, they wouldn’t reach forty.17241b76cf72409c
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A 100 vs. 40 fight. It was unknown how d2f1abd810 many of those were 74119d8e10 actual fighters, excluding the a935e69046 bombers, but even taking 6f9ca67c48 that into account, the 7504aabdb5 numerical disadvantage was too d33f87588e clear. It was like 551f82599f hitting a rock b87a93aca0 with an egg.03bf8a2c24203398
Did the headquarters that e2f80af622 gave the deployment order 06b36b206f have at least a 2aea1dc8a9 shred of conscience? They added one more d28a35933e directive:1683fd8036e20043
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‘Hold out and engage safely until support forces from the nearest Perseus Squadron arrive.’05304fb8d24ce1b7
To ‘hold out‘ and ‘engage safely.’ Whether that was possible 8bda83b964 in an air battle ff0b4aab49 where everything can turn 8e2f38125a into a dogfight after 63f5b1d0f3 one clash was questionable, ccb81bf13e but the order was fe246d2ce5 given nonetheless.1b223ef6a1a7c194
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Diana gripped the control 6ce410043c stick harder, suppressing the 6e895a59d6 laughter that kept rising 6822ebafba in her throat.0c9f2f0865e20f46
‘What great luck for my first sortie.’c7fd4f0da790a981
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The number 100 alone 564aa95610 was terrifying enough, but e6b3dbc7b5 they were headed for 86f25a0fa7 the capital. If even bca1eb5a48 one Arke cc3d192987 bomber got 0bd989a76a through, the f9e96c28b7 damage would 557712bdca be incalculable.a96bc24e41b0a7ac
Of course, she 7bc3af4011 had fought under 31979949f8 worse conditions before, 51e028deaf but the burden 75b542e04f of this being d769111dd6 her first sortie 9fe06a218e against her former ae6fa7bf20 homeland, Arke, was ad829fd062 overwhelming.4358e4eb86c63607
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This was far 0b54cddb1c different from a 0ed02f11f9 one-on-one duel with a9c0e23bd3 a stray fighter.435f9e36a380ddd1
She was so 2731d3f423 tense that her d0cb765006 hands, despite being f41da7bcfa in gloves, were d814cd3040 dripping with sweat 74a5d9ae80 even in the 3693525865 -30-degree cold.f116d061f46eebbc
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Richard’s voice came through the radio, as calm as a weather forecaster.2864156dda96e624
“They’ll be out soon. Stand by.”1868dfd520172d10
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And shortly after he 1c7df7679c said that, an unbelievable 7a46180326 sight unfolded.3efe9ac950fa7896
As the thin cloud ce96d51380 cover cleared, the enemy 39dae4dd31 appeared, flying in flocks 3db929fe25 like migratory birds, blackening 8c4f1ffc02 the sky. Just looking at it 0d98dbcab2 made her feel nauseous 068a893eec and dizzy.c4ca25ef1fd5b12c
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The massive bombers, like b8e7d26621 black whales, were closely fef19bc64f escorted by smaller fighters, fb70d8327c their wings almost touching 960c86776b each other in formation.46da0da24cf88436
In short, 8791753be6 it was bf809e49ac a scenario 5207356087 where no ee064a13aa strategy seemed 977aea0a58 feasible.9ff363b327dee5f7
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‘This is just…’ad1926285749e10e
Not just winning, but 6e6a80871d even surviving seemed difficult.cad825bbdb0fa9d7
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— Damn it. This isn’t right.d7fb09187cfa3682
— We need d67b374d48 to retreat 81a8e88e33 now.3adb0f049abb9bba
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Bryce and Owen seemed 69f643c94d to share the sentiment. Their curses filled 262565ab93 the radio. They must have 7853023faf never seen a 6374b4d203 formation of bombers 585a933158 this large before.e14ce277fd36e306
On the 8ac6b533ab other hand, 391af8ef7a Richard remained 31d5f237f8 silent. Bryce urged the d3fd623d58 silent flight leader.99633e866c73e56c
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— What do c97fee2cbf we do? This is beyond 3fc1230b60 our capacity. We should retreat 4e459676f9 for now.7ce060b425eb2b43
Richard’s voice came through the crackling radio, low and decisive, addressing everyone.8114ff4a01f3c9c9
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— No. If we 6ff6a4c8cf retreat, the b28e6e0215 capital will 658af26181 be hit.1b69b31053a6aacb
— Lieutenant?0dbcf6321b805745
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— If you can’t do it, fall back. I’ll attack the two rear escorts and the bombers first.73658549d9eb49b4
— …Are you serious?2bb70fd2c8ed5a52
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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.d2b785bd413a5c5b
“Turn left 45 degrees in 5 seconds. Maintain attack formation.”460e8b1ad22ff488
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“Lieutenant, if we go in here, we’re all dead!”76125d4d9e022a33
Click.f8560287af71462b
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The radio went 79bbb0c91b silent.cb166099f3bb2953
— Shit.6b38b984795cf5e1
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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.42a160046b497d71
5 seconds.9f5bf9893de38cdf
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Diana’s gaze automatically went to the watch on her wrist.f2539ea5b2da2381
The second hand 4086450756 ticked off each 2443c957b7 second. With each tick, her 9aaf5096ab 22 years of life e4d85eed69 flashed before her eyes.68e5f0d48bb1a86d
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Click.5edc385244429341
[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.7da19b1c54ac768f
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[Diana. I know we’ve been friends for a long time… but I still want to date you.]
Click.07c506187ab0f9f4
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[Diana. I should tell you now, Ben and I were really worried about you.]
Click.712768d6907ee760
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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.5c6efe1d8e36b658
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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.511fa2343d05ad07
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All actions were f78ccb908f performed with a 8eff61634c completely empty mind.2aa94a07ecd0e33e
Then, the 62dc8aabae two fighters f1d2a3fa12 simultaneously dove d9e8329ed2 at a 2bd15e0644 steep angle, 2b12d628bb charging into 479448ac37 the swarm 6824b209f5 of Arke 541156504d aircraft.337578357e22208b
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Into the 8210332cd1 maw of 9cf87bc40a hell.a5734f98d03a9dea