UCT Ch 17

Diana watched the man’s hands, observing the movement of his thick knuckles and long fingers.0348a5c7df4d81f7

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.0a0632be562dfc40

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Diana quickly turned e192156f7b her head away, ef933fba5b muttering to herself.45e9a5e81afa9213

‘He must be the type who treats his fighter like a lover.’52f13dc0ed7cf7bf

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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.1e3ca0e9479c5957

“It’s an Exton-6b. They doubled the machine guns from the previous model.”ca4ba2e069bd6b3f

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“Pardon?”4d30bc2fca538a3d

“You kept looking, so I thought you were curious. Is there a problem with me telling you?”e14bf68d65d898cb

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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.4fa0394d2e3cd28a

“…Thank you for telling me, Lieutenant. It’s a really nice plane.”f8ac6e5484d5b4d7

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It wasn’t entirely a lie. Richard Ashwood’s fighter looked ‘cool’ in the colloquial sense.cf5ce64ea7211d14

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.43ed46f37e3f3ac2

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However, there was one d6274dec75 thing more noticeable than fae4dc408d the fighter itself, and b5f1cd4798 that was the color 54cac2a095 of the aircraft.6b93d05a17a58df0

Richard’s fighter, the Exton-6b, was as white as snow.d4177ad1524c6afe

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Although there were dark cc34679492 smudges here and there, 10dd265dcc it was entirely painted 221565fc9a in pure white from 0053ac4f76 nose to tail.a3713bf51b921a56

And on 5d622fb6c8 that white 566c4e693b background, numerous ef3bf60000 black lines 4739fc5b97 were drawn, f37c878d2f likely kill a36b1d6170 marks indicating a92f2d8dc2 the number 6825b23ee0 of enemy 77f0f10967 fighters shot 5d8b6fd346 down. It was both chilling d24c2d34a8 and imposing.7f4197adecd095ba

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Incidentally, painting a fighter entirely white…c4e5ce516aeb7b76

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.”66e090b246fb2986

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Even this 1a61f21f9a arrogant lieutenant 097a2fa335 had some c14e232f9f human qualities.4ca5ccf1d279d01c

Diana asked Richard b8bfcc05dd tentatively.85edcdcbc736b156

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“It seems you respect the White Hawk.”fafa2bdbc2194127

At the same time, the man’s hand, which had been examining the fighter, stopped. His expression was hidden by the aircraft.be0664e9c3b62045

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“Why would you think that?”c5b8d978a8d53283

“……?”32ec82d09fab305d

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Why would she df26379621 think that? Was he 27f8a5095e genuinely asking e7226ee617 this out 2d88350f30 of ignorance? Diana awkwardly smiled 1f3462f5ea as she answered.96e51e2e255a3c56

“Because you painted it white, I thought perhaps…”6cac7391259cddaf

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“Ah, I see. You could think that.”342becbb5e048385

Only then, 0c19e1c816 as if c3f30a996b just realizing 39ec6442ea the color eea1192845 of his dfa2de5220 own fighter, 5f5f6715a2 the man c5379ab58e nodded in 3e1f358979 understanding. He chuckled with a 11d2909e15 low, impatient laugh.6723474f439dc005

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“Usually, the fools who volunteer here…”86fcb4a76b2fe9e8

“……”b5780f07f71cd819

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“Are often drawn by the fame of the White Hawk like moths to a flame.”fbdd18171ae73821

“But I have no intention of burning to death in that fire. I’m not so weak as to worship someone as an idol.”5978f17c0c02a51c

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The smile faded from Diana’s lips.c774a3a215ccfb63

Clearly, there 762f02ba96 was nothing ed0adab8f4 wrong with a6c683e2e0 what the c0032f6d7a man had 6feba8cb55 said.4c1f03e0ab528865

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There was 820a73d936 no law d40a27c8ee that all 5686862197 pilots had 737cba318c to respect 8dba97e2f5 Fernan Lowell, 32f739a6c0 nor was 48152902a9 there one 5fe4cf92a1 stating only e7cf173298 those who 1d94336f4a respected him a74c587fee could paint af0f7faa81 their planes 3a952a15ed white.65db74c9d9779c87

So, she could 7decc32755 just let it 6f4185e05f go.09c33dbe840199de

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But while she thought this rationally, she couldn’t help but ask herself inwardly.0e9aad676f06a232

‘Aren’t you an idol too? Bringerton’s new idol.’78342e310ef6f5e2

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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.b3604e3b8e1ea1eb

— 3rd Battalion, prepare 683a20901b for takeoff!23f05a6867442fef

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It was the hellish 54337cabbb bell signaling the first d0b431ae62 launch.8ead43993c30b538

🌷🌷🌷f6bcb2a22fde11e4

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{ The bells 42a425fd9b of hell 638cbdbb6a go ting-a-ling-a-ling,1b5feaefade10bf7

Calling for you, not 93752cfd55 for me.ba3d048bef5c6f2b

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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> }fe06210dc6bcdef7

It seemed 5e8322f214 like only 25677caf1f a few 304ea67053 minutes had 9b7dbb1538 passed since 541cb1423f the launch ab2fc8ebbf order was f56a78b170 given, yet 1bc66179ae when she 852e5029e2 came to c7476eeeb7 her senses, 9f79b19189 they were f726226b0c already flying 7e90ff7827 at 5,000 fae512c7c2 meters above. Everything felt 1469e0f34e like a fcf40e02d2 dream, with 707b561a8c the oxygen 7c4f2a7fab and sense d7afa10ddb of reality 06d0afd8ed both being 782c1e31d6 scarce.6c97a2abe6de6562

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Through the 7272799a85 front glass 038c8fecb2 of the 6aeed9114e cockpit, she a2b017bba0 could see 93e90772ab the formation 69c352c07d of fighters 6a3dc973df slicing through 952836aad2 the sky 4c3feaa81c ahead.f1461386dcc43f87

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.0d4713d4f5c11afc

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The radio 2422cdb136 was silent. The only sounds f9ab959daa were occasional reports 68cf72a6f1 from the base 14a054d1cb radar controller about cd398f2126 the incoming enemy, dee75b4673 while the pilots 4cde46024a maintained silence, focusing b817cabd2d only on flying.44c00537bdb509db

No one f5637ea113 had much 89fa0ff8c4 to say.f4965849ab9ec10b

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According to 63f2df3f07 the controller, 3db1d91481 the 3rd fbc19ee94a Battalion was 55cff68d81 in a 10702ef409 dire situation. They had to stop f3d1a812be around a hundred enemy b5427e5c46 bombers heading toward the 2abd1ce68c capital, a truly dog-like 3de00694e3 situation.b800670850e85f40

Judging by the pale faces of the pilots upon hearing the orders, this wasn’t a common occurrence.93e52d65fb8203ce

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…Of course, it shouldn’t be common.2e2a5e069950d2f5

Even if you scraped together all the fighters from the 3rd Battalion, they wouldn’t reach forty.233c27e3bd41a06f

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A 100 vs. 40 fight. It was unknown how 508353141c many of those were e33005b42d actual fighters, excluding the aab586498d bombers, but even taking d390c8d201 that into account, the 2c7f091c73 numerical disadvantage was too 420cb3f151 clear. It was like 0bad9bbe2f hitting a rock e2e5de0bf7 with an egg.e96236757f2fc920

Did the headquarters d17c7d5da7 that gave the 0ca6512f75 deployment order have 813a298fd7 at least a 0e575fb81a shred of conscience? They added 4acc05732b one more 91beebacd4 directive:694c474f9d134053

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‘Hold out and engage safely until support forces from the nearest Perseus Squadron arrive.’abc5c829d3cb6fd7

To ‘hold out‘ and ‘engage safely.’ Whether that c4dc27b259 was possible 80138cd2e9 in an f241d798b6 air battle a08bb93efa where everything 3b6d2d31d8 can turn 81d4e15296 into a 59b03d864f dogfight after 88f1aa0928 one clash 4a64b4d0ea was questionable, d3feac7ef7 but the fbaffd8e71 order was 4431bbae5d given nonetheless.0e2d95549b7728a5

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Diana gripped the ef7f174eaa control stick harder, 9ee527d4aa suppressing the laughter 7821298657 that kept rising c9480884a4 in her throat.7eceb511d2e42541

‘What great luck for my first sortie.’9c746a37c2f41cd2

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The number a9f22610cd 100 alone fea5f262ba was terrifying 9ef3ac415d enough, but 7dc073bb2c they were eaf7935d6b headed for 31893ab5b3 the capital. If even one Arke ee05314471 bomber got through, the 17d982902a damage would be incalculable.093264d542dde3a7

Of course, 665ca4767d she had a7162fb201 fought under c9f8ab7cd0 worse conditions ffe0df9b40 before, but aea8687178 the burden 0483e03299 of this d793198c0f being her 9587404c98 first sortie 462fb66315 against her e2d29201ab former homeland, 46359fda96 Arke, was 3df5be1af6 overwhelming.bb38d4fcd1a7b469

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This was far 043082604e different from a 65d0e69b71 one-on-one duel with 3f5a0a045d a stray fighter.9d80167271f50541

She was so 9e15e87a1b tense that her 3eecefb579 hands, despite being 2af0d8fdef in gloves, were 721e3c8e09 dripping with sweat 5596a45293 even in the 0ee199e90a -30-degree cold.5d9181f64e70e482

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Richard’s voice came through the radio, as calm as a weather forecaster.c0f3e270b2a5e669

“They’ll be out soon. Stand by.”46de775ceb176f8d

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And shortly 9459fcc5c0 after he d3b5832a25 said that, 0b2439012f an unbelievable f5efb66800 sight unfolded.e244ac9af99f6874

As the thin 9f16a1c556 cloud cover cleared, 01768ff145 the enemy appeared, c27edff77a flying in flocks f3d87d479a like migratory birds, 66133910c8 blackening the sky. Just looking 79db4b653a at it 77bcb1f8a0 made her 35a8994388 feel nauseous 5516cf5954 and dizzy.9501cc41a42a323e

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The massive bombers, 54ca4b6089 like black whales, 1d8e2a6c93 were closely escorted ac46d8ba08 by smaller fighters, dc31e693d7 their wings almost 583cb51593 touching each other 27b5cbec63 in formation.414dca247a4097c3

In short, it was 66b5fa3926 a scenario where no 88d2086250 strategy seemed feasible.821932a7131c4b18

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‘This is just…’a18c7de3358009b6

Not just winning, but 716d107e22 even surviving seemed difficult.f0ccd4c3c481f0c6

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— Damn it. This isn’t right.3cce6d09cd622234

— We need to retreat 922569a1dc now.45c76ed6f15298b6

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Bryce and aaae13bfdc Owen seemed fa0fcf58ef to share e0125d4d76 the sentiment. Their curses filled 3e60ba5e3f the radio. They must have never e105e6f8fd seen a formation of a381a82fb6 bombers this large before.5f34a93898e9d024

On the other hand, 14dd7d8099 Richard remained silent. Bryce urged the afaccf94b4 silent flight leader.07835d974c7486d7

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— What do we 54f79d8237 do? This is beyond 77353769e7 our capacity. We should retreat b928792dac for now.d16992f6548ca85a

Richard’s voice came through the crackling radio, low and decisive, addressing everyone.fbeb049179525460

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— No. If we retreat, 32e820e502 the capital will c62c50e0c8 be hit.aa7a91276e8fc527

— Lieutenant?c2bb6c15699aa686

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— If you can’t do it, fall back. I’ll attack the two rear escorts and the bombers first.e43e25caebb27ebf

— …Are you serious?5942bb5852b27075

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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.72563c1c6f78fc64

“Turn left 45 degrees in 5 seconds. Maintain attack formation.”f90a4578f147811e

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“Lieutenant, if we go in here, we’re all dead!”578a7528b82fbd4a

Click.6879a7df740f988b

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The radio went de96259f51 silent.98835a2563df9c43

— Shit.578e5bc4e0d3abf1

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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.978696824ae5d414

5 seconds.e7d6109868793ff4

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Diana’s gaze automatically went to the watch on her wrist.c452f938b8a692b4

The second c3ef40f43c hand ticked f0e4659252 off each 7fc968a0ee second. With each 28264a84cf tick, her f578d917ef 22 years eb27fe11b5 of life 9db5fd88d2 flashed before 0cc6a639f7 her eyes.80aae551febe6dad

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Click.ecd079aee3ee40d8

[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.4bf48bc87a48f70f

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

Click.3f1c69b97595aad9

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

Click.1f80a4d172fb9f02

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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.fdcbcf4decd43aad

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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.8be1de73bd6e8ea3

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All actions 8264c1441f were performed 1bc8929b8a with a 27fe676031 completely empty c900340306 mind.013f163e01acf542

Then, the two fighters edafd1c226 simultaneously dove at a b901c0be83 steep angle, charging into da1ac6621d the swarm of Arke 7104cfd64e aircraft.831f5786055a8156

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Into the a532f0aa49 maw of 93a877a547 hell.497f388f469ce17e