c10 (2/2)
”Meow” Sam ran the defense wave [jammers] and stealth abilities As soon as he did that, the reet] and exploded in the sky
When Katerina reached [her aircraft's] maximum altitude, she released the {EMP apparatus A} that she'd received froine and made Wyvern descend in near total free fall By the effect of the super jammers, [Wyvern] would be nearly undetectable by the Alliance Army Fleet It was silent in an instant There was only the whistling sound of speeding through the air With a bird's eye view froht above, the double hulled aircraft carrier with its four runas in the center of the fleet With frozen white ripples extending in the four directions, it suggested a huge four leaf clover
”So that's why that air craft carrier is called 'clover'”
”Meow”
”Hey Sam, did you know? DD stands for 'Diaives me Martix's 'Spade,' the aircraft carrier 'Clover,' and DD's 'Diamond' It's too bad, really If we had a 'heart,' we'd have all the suits from a deck of cards [15]”
”Meo”
”Oh, yeah! It'd be funny if I started going by the [nickname] 'Queen of Hearts' once I become queen!” That didn't happen Katerina ca Queen' And it was this battle that decided it be so
Wyvern closed in right up to the Clover aircraft carrier's bridge Controlling its (form) with the reverse thrusters, it hovered in the airspace there According to Sam's predictions, the Alliance Army's next attack would start with the heavy bomber G Bombers and attack helicopters [He] wanted to prevent that at all costs If boan, Wyvern [could survive] unharmed, but there was the possibility of casualties on the Alliance's side Making full use of the on, Katerina fit {EMP apparatus B} to the radar and coe [The apparatus] corresponded to the {EMP apparatus A} that had been released at high altitude and [together, they] released pulsing electroe area ((with a radius of two kilo to the operation of that high powered apparatus, the Alliance Ar panic First, without use of their communication network, the chain of command was cut off and fleet cooperation ceased At the same time, aircraft carrier based planes couldn't take off Only Wyvern could fly freely under those conditions because it had been (loaded) with 'Sam' which had an isolated support system All at once, Katerina ascended and returned to the rebel fleet Katerina immediately opened a commlink to the rebel fleet as soon as she cleared the area affected by the EMP
”This is Katerina! Mission all complete!”
”This is Robin Hood Copy that!”
”That ell, didn't it, Sam!”
”Meow!”
Wyvern returned to the inner Cinq Kingdom bay; as soon a she entered, the rebel aran fierce cannon fire
In the Battle of the Baltic, the Alliance's Third Flotilla lost instantly
--AC February--
In the Baltic, the rebel ar clover aircraft carrier and several battleshi+ps [froainst the Alliance] With such a strong navy, it was possible to go beyond the strait of Kattegat and out into the open water of the North Sea [where they could] wage a decisive battle against the Alliance's Fourth and Fifth Flotillas
Midnight a few days following the attack--
Katerina and Martix took Spade for a walk After letting [Spade] mark the Chief of Staff's roo cold and snow fell Martix took Spade off his lead and let hiot close, the front lights suddenly turned on And [Wyvern] inti him with a blast of exhaust Spade turned tail and ran Katerina and Martix guffawed over the scene It was funny that Wyvern, the strongest fighter on Earth, unbeatable by G Force or G Fighters, was scared of a little puppy When Spade caain, Wyveren next stuck out the ive [Spade] a (cat punch) Katerina even scolded him, ”No, Sam! Don't lose your temper”
Wyvern reluctantly stored the manipulator
Martix laughed as he spoke, ”You're a strange person, you are”
”Really?” Katerina cocked her head to the side She seemed to lack self-awareness
”Because right noe're just days away from the decisive battle, but you're the sa since before as well Having this rare opportunity, he decided to ask, ”Are you fai?” [155]
”No, I don't know it”
”The pieces move like they do in 'chess' ((that we often play)), but the rules are rather difficult and all the staffers say: shougi doesn't have strategic value in real fighting So it's unpopular”
”Is it that difficult?”
”When you capture one of your opponents pieces, you can use it as one of your own So when a single pawn-like soldier gets behind eneoes up re, ”Another characteristic rule is when the pieces called hisha and kaku, they et behind enemy lines, they become pieces that are able to move as freely as the Ryuu--the Queen”
”Really” Katerina was probably somewhat bored
But Martix wanted to tell the end of his story, ”Haven't you noticed? Isn't this game exactly like you?”
The princess in Wyvern had descended upon the rebel arshi+p, becoht back against the Alliance Army
”I don't really know” She sht?”
”I'ht be possible to beat the Earth Sphere United Alliance Ar freedom and peace ”Princess Katerinaplease carry on for the sake of eternal ideals,” thought Martix, but he didn't speak the words He believed those blue eyes would once again stare at hiainst those eyes” he muttered
Around the sa their brains The existence of the fighter craft 'Sa but the problem ith the {EMP apparatus} that confined all the fleets' war operations Even as they examined the remains of the [units] that had been scattered in the air and self-detonated via timer, it didn't seem possible for them to recreate the apparatus If the sa naval battle, even the largest of their fleets would unfortunately meet with disaster The only way to prevent that would be to shoot down Katerina and Sam before the apparatus was set However, [the pair's] mobility and stealth was better than any of the Alliance Army's crafts; the proof was in their absolute helplessness in the previous naval battle It was true that the Fourth and Fifth Flotillas would flee miserably
”No, there is one way,” suggested one worried executive It was Coer of the Third Flotilla That man, who had escaped on hands and knees, had been demoted and relieved of his flotilla's co that brat and 'Saainst the royal fadom
”Is there a way to do that?”
”I'll see about having the Romefeller Foundation help Even if they've an accord with the rebels, the Peacecrafts er intended to co diplomatic measures
The following day, the Alliance Army's request was made to the Romefeller Foundation The current Foundation representative was Duke Cinquante Khushrenada
”Understood I will call Princess Peacecraft to the Foundation ”
A service man from the Alliance Army executives appeared on the vid link, ”I appreciate it,” [he said]
Cinquante spoke with a deep nod, ”You needn't worry That , correct?”
”'Gemina MW'”
”There's still the matter of compensation She would be hard pressed to refuse”
”Do I have your [solemn] word on that?”
”On my honor as a Khushrenada”
”Thank youNow, about that fighter”
”'Sam' isn't ti?”
”You know it? That will speed things up Naturally, I expect you will catch it”
”We're a long way frodomshe'll probably ride it here I hope you'll leave it all to me”
”Much obliged”
The service man saluted and cut the transmission Cinquante smiled as he settled comfortably in his chair
”What are you playing at, Cinquante?” asked a old [16] as opposite the work desk He wasn't born to the nobility, but after he inherited a vast fortune, he got important rank in the Romefeller Foundation He was a close friend of the forty-soely like minded
”The Earth Sphere United Alliance has also grown too bigit wouldn't be bad to (shave off) some of that influence while we can”
”I agree, but you can't just ignore the Alliance's requestwon't there be several generals at the Foundation conference?”
”No, I intend to listen to their demands”
”How?”
”My dear Eric, you've gotten friendly with Marquis Weyridge, haven't you?”
”I've known hieneration)”
”I'd like to get in touch with a youngthere by the name of Heero Yuy”
In the North Sea, the Alliance Fleet's Fourth and Fifth Flotillas were asse the possibility Katerina and Saht The rebel arat Strait and spread out in the Baltic Sea Both fleets were prepared to fight However, the Alliance Arree of tension The ene at theh-altitude Or perhaps fro to a bulletin from Cinquante Khushrenada
”Please relax They have said they will 'Coht was the only night Katerina could attack
--If only dawn came, if only daould come--
Thought the Alliance fleet's coo to Luxeht, then that machine was supposed to be seized by the Ro the Alliance's Fourth and Fifth Flotillas could sleep, not the officers or the sailors, nobody They spent a (desperate) night, long and bitter cold
Morning came and the sun cliave an unconscious cheer So an attack The sun cli out, happy that they were eared up for a (refreshi+ng) afternoon In the officers' roo as lunch)
”In less than an hour, Ro will startwe've made it by the skin of our teeth”
The lunch dishes were lined up side by side Then, it happened The co into the officers' room
”Commander, there's trouble!”
”What happened?”
”Strong ECM has been released! Communications are jammed!”
”What?!” There was no doubting the {EPM apparatus} had been activated ”Inconceivable!”
At Ro conference rooenerals impatiently awaited the arrival of Katerina Peacecraft However, she did not appear even when the [scheduled] start tione
”Seems we've been dumped,” Eric muttered into Cinquante's ear
”No, on a date, it's not unusual for aa minute or two,” said Cinquante and he cliin, if everyone would please take their seats,” he greeted The buzzing in the conference room silenced
”Duke Khushrenada!” One of the old Alliance Arenerals stood as he emphatically called out, ”Today, Princess Katerina of the Cinq Kingdom is supposed to be here! I demand an explanation for why she has yet to appear!”
”My apologies for keeping you waiting” The large, heavy door at the entrance to the conference roo lady with beautiful long blonde hair and clear blue eyes ”I am Peacecraft of Cinq” Behind her stood a tall youth with black hair
”Welcome, Princessthis way, please,” Cinquante showed her to her seat Eric grinned The gorgeous princess crossed the red rug as she nodded to those in the conference roo before them was suspicious
”Is that the real deal?”
”The face and stature ot to be her”
”Surely you recall she has a twin sister”
”No, I lost my sister in an accident last fall”
”So as that report froo? 'We were attacked by Katerina and Sam,' they definitely said that!”
The generals didn't know: the Cinq Kingdom princess in that rooot noisy The Alliance Arenerals' voices were especially loud
”Do the generals have any questions?” Cinquante asked airily
”Yyes, that lady frodom, er, well, she's truly a Peacecraft?”
Cinquante cut off the old general's faltering question to say, ”I shall answer your question However, you may not trust my oords Shall we have the lady herself speak?”
”Yes, let's”
”Gentleman, a word first: the lady is judicious and currently is an ardent admirer of the philosopher Immanuel Kant; she prescribes to his philosophy 'falsehoods are a sin' In other words, she will not lie”
”That's excellent”
”Now, Princesswould you be so kind as to answer the question?”
”Yes” Sabrina ascended to dais, she looked at the faces of the nobility and generals present She was at ease ”I ahter of the house of Peacecraft”
”If so, then let's ask! I dom and the rebel forces have entered into an alliance! You support the Earth Sphere United Alliance after all, do you not?!”
”The Earth Sphere United Alliance meant to drop a nuclear warhead on my country”
”That's not true!”
”I do not believe the ESUA's attempt to ruin a country that supports [the Alliance] is the proper action Accordingly, the Cinq Kingdom secedes from the Earth Sphere United Alliance and concludes [ie enters into] an alliance with the people who are called rebels I aies”
”Tsk[17] the satellite,” the old general hurriedly sed the phrase 'you got the satellite' ”An artificial satellite that was made to protect our Earth from meteorites and space debris was destroyed by so, wasn't it?”
”I have done no such thing”
”Then 'Sam' did it all by itself?”
”No, 'Sa”
Then, Eric broke in, ”We of the Romefeller Foundation have confir off in (scrap orbit) was a complete accident It is a heavy expense, but the [financial] burden should be shouldered by all the countries”
”No, we can't do that! If the actions were to protect her own country of Cinq, then it is Peacecraft who ought to pay daes!”
”Then you acquiesce, do you, General? That you meant to drop a nuclear warhead on my country”
”Urk”
The old general had hanged himself with that one careless phrase Nevertheless, that did no ive up]
”No, no! Princess, you have just confirht [it] with you?”
”No, I've brought hi as requested”
”Broughthi?” [175]
”Heero-sensei, would you mind?”
The young ainst his chest he held the Norwegian forest cat 'Sam'
”Allow me to introduce you This is my 'Sam'”
Heero ascended the dais as he stared at the blubbering generals 'Sam' meowed Heero handed 'Sam' to Sabrina and then bent towards the microphone, ”Excuse mea moment please?”
The old generals, excited with fury, showered abuse: LIES!; You h of this foolishness!
In a low, quiet voice, Heero said, ”Shut up, you old coots [18]” All at once, silence fell ”Everything she says is the truth” with an even sharper look, he added,” And every last one of you is wrong!”
Dusk that day--
In the North Sea, the great battle between the Earth Sphere United Alliance Army's Fourth and Fifth Flotillas and the rebel fleet concluded with a great difference, [courtesy of] Katerina Peacecraft and Wyvern Of course, the rebel side was victorious The Earth Sphere Untied Alliance Ar invincible, lost for the very first time since its inception in AC 133
MC-0022 NEXT WINTER
They had come within a distance of several minutes of Elysium Island Naina turned around and said, ”Looks like I wasn't able to shake off our pursuer” She switched on the high-speed large-scale transport shi+p's autopilot ”It was probably that kid who followed us”
”By 'that kid', you mean Duo Maxwell?” muttered Katrine As expected, they both were quick to catch on Neither the enemy-detection radar nor the observation satellite had picked up on anything yet Naina, moreover, used the commlink to call the 909th Mars Federal Special Independent Squadron, aka ”Merciless Faeries”, for eency deployment
With a nervous look, ?”
”Don't worry, Motherit'll be just like going on a picnic” I casually took out the lunch box ”I'h sandwiches for Duo” I answered as I looked at the weather ”
”That's Duo's Warlock,” Naina said with a sharp look ”{Queen of Hearts} attack!” [19]
To be continued