The moment the declaration of war was made, the Empire’s massive war machine began to turn.
“So, my vacation ends here after all.”
I rose from the sofa of the luxurious mansion I had only just begun to grow fond of.
As the very man who had drawn up the blueprint for the large-scale operation, I could hardly remain in the rear either.
Thus, the Jaeger Combat Group and I boarded a train and headed west.
Our destination was the western Empire. The frontline coast facing the sea.
We were not the only ones heading west.
Hundreds, thousands of tons of cement and rebar. Endless freight trains and supply truck convoys stretched unbroken toward the western coast.
After running for more than half a day, just as the salty scent of the sea began to reach us.
Screech—!
The train applied its brakes and stopped near the coast. The moment the doors opened, deafening construction noise greeted me.
Squeal—! Bang! Bang! Bang!
“Move more ammo boxes over here! Double-check the fuse coupling properly!”
“Speed up the runway paving! Two more squadrons arrive tomorrow morning!”
The coast was anything but peaceful.
In just a few days.
Thousands of combat engineers and laborers had been committed, building bases upon the coastal cliffs and plains. The temporary airfield and anti-aircraft positions looked exactly like a coastal fortress.
It was as I was lightly surveying the military base spread before my eyes.
“Long time no see, Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger!”
When I turned at the voice calling me, I saw a familiar face.
‘Status Analysis.’
[Name: Heinrich von Hermann]
[Affiliation: Imperial Air Force 5th Fighter Wing]
[Rank: Lieutenant Colonel (Base Defense Squadron Commander)]
The 88mm enthusiast who had smashed Republic tanks alongside me in the Rosenheim urban battle.
Standing there was Heinrich von Hermann, now a lieutenant colonel.
The Iron Cross at his throat, a crisp Air Force uniform. The command vehicle and aides behind him.
He looked somewhat different from the man I had known. On the outside, he was the very picture of a typical elite Air Force officer.
I supposed this was who he had always been; it was simply that the side he had shown in Rosenheim had been so extraordinary.
“Congratulations on your promotion, Lieutenant Colonel Hermann. You’ve certainly risen in the world.”
When I offered a light salute, Heinrich laughed heartily and returned it.
“It’s all thanks to you. Yes, of course! And that’s not all. Thanks to you championing air warfare, the Air Force budget is pouring in. I’ve never had so many resources in all my life!”
Unable to contain his excitement, he stretched his arm toward the coastline.
Only months ago, the Air Force had been in a miserable state, watching the Army’s mood. At best, they were treated as ‘flying artillery’ that cleared the path for armored divisions.
Now, things were different.
The supply trucks filling the roads bore the Air Force eagle insignia, and Army combat engineers were digging under the orders of Air Force officers.
For the first time since the Empire’s founding, the Air Force had seized the sole ‘starring role’ in the war.
But Heinrich’s expression, which had been exuberant, soon sank heavily.
“…But Lieutenant Colonel. Now that the lid has been lifted, reality is grim.”
“Because of the preliminary battle results?”
At my question, Heinrich nodded bitterly.
Preliminary battles. It referred to the preemptive air battles that had taken place over the strait in recent days.
Immediately after the declaration of war—no, perhaps even before— the Imperial Air Force had been clashing with the Red Air Force.
The result had been a ‘narrow victory’ for the Empire.
It was not an overwhelming victory. For having poured out the entire Air Force’s strength, it was a pitiful report card.
“Yes. It’s true our fighters have superior performance, but damn range is holding us back. We cross the sea and fight for barely ten minutes before running out of fuel and having to turn back.”
“And bomber losses are severe as well.”
“Exactly as you say. The skies above that island nation are a veritable boiling hellpot. Our bombers are becoming honeycombs in their dense anti-aircraft net and falling out of the sky.”
It was the limitation of air power in this era.
The fact that fighters lacked the range to escort bombers across the sea.
In the end, bombers were being thrown alone into the heart of enemy territory, torn apart by anti-aircraft guns and interceptors.
“Resources are pouring in, yet we can’t even properly cross the sea. What kind of twisted comedy is this!”
“That is why I have had something prepared since months ago.”
“What? That ‘modernization doctrine’ you were babbling about before His Majesty? Isn’t that pure nonsense!”
Heinrich exclaimed as if he had just remembered.
“That damned jet engine or whatever! Because of that pie-in-the-sky talk, our engineers are being worked to death right now!”
Of course, jet engine development still had a long way to go. I frequently heard that they were merely playing with fireworks in the laboratory.
But what I had prepared was not some toy from a distant future.
“…So, Lieutenant Colonel Jaeger.”
Having finished his jest, Heinrich composed himself. A strange light flickered in his eyes.
“Well, did you bring something useful?”
“Yes, they will arrive shortly.”
Right on cue, a roar began to sound from beyond the sky. It was the sound of aircraft engines.
Booooom—!
Heinrich looked up at the sky with wide eyes.
“Those… aren’t they our current mainstay fighters? But what in the world are those monstrous tin cans hanging under the wings? They’re too big to be bombs.”
“Fuel tanks. While flying, they use the fuel from those cans, and when combat begins in earnest, they drop the whole can into the sea.”
Commonly called ‘auxiliary fuel tanks.’
The simple yet great invention that had changed the landscape of the skies during World War II.
“…They solved the range problem with such a crude method?”
Heinrich stared at the formation in the sky with an expression of disbelief.
“Where did such crude things suddenly appear from?”
“They are the only solution that lets us cross the sea immediately, so the Ordnance Department paid through the nose to acquire them.”
Aiden’s lobbying had played a part as well. Naturally, I kept that to myself.
“…Well now. Your knack for producing what’s needed, exactly where and when it’s needed, hasn’t changed.”
“Still, minor flaws remain. I hear there are cases where the fuel tanks fail to drop and get stuck.”
“A problem of that degree is no big deal. Breaking those Red bastards’ skulls across the sea is far more important!”
Right, this fellow wouldn’t care about such issues. I’d known he was crazy since Rosenheim, when he was obsessed with horizontal 88mm fire.
Leaving his fuss behind, I turned my gaze toward the runway where the aircraft were landing one after another.
“Hey! Clear runway three! Third squadron incoming!”
“Stand by with equipment! The brakes are slipping, move aside!”
Loud whistles burst out here and there.
The bewildered shouts of maintenance crews seeing the bizarre attachments hanging from the planes for the first time were also heard.
“Sergeant! What the hell are those vicious drum barrels hanging under the wings? Don’t tell me they actually patched those on and flew here…”
“Fuck, I don’t know either! If the higher-ups say strip them, we strip them! Stop yapping and get me a wrench!”
The pilots’ reactions were much the same. As I headed toward the hangar, flight-suited officers swarmed in to vent their complaints.
“Commander! What in God’s name are those strange drum barrels? If we try to dogfight with those attached, we’ll be so sluggish the enemy will latch onto our tails for sure!”
Heinrich cleared his throat and glanced at me. A signal to explain.
I took a step toward the pilots.
“Just jettison them when you encounter hostiles.”
“Huh? What do you mean…….”
The pilots’ eyes went wide.
“They’re disposable auxiliary fuel tanks, anyway. Drink the fuel dry and dump them in the sea. They’re designed to detach with just a pull of that lever.”
“Di-disposable?”
“They’re much cheaper than your lives, anyway.”
Soon, Heinrich’s roar put an end to the commotion in the hangar.
“How long are you going to stand around yapping, you idiots! Sortie is imminent! Move, move!”
The pilots scattered at once, and the hangar began to turn again like well-oiled gears.
*
The effect of the new weapon was immediate.
From the very next day, the Imperial Air Force began to freely traverse the strait and attack ships.
Naturally, the People’s Union Republic was not about to sit idly by. Enemy fighters immediately scrambled to intercept.
“[Hostiles spotted! Bearing eleven o’clock, altitude four thousand! Descending and approaching!]”
Urgent voices rang through the control tower radio.
Strength entered Heinrich’s fist as he gazed at the sky outside the command post window. Max Jaeger also listened intently to the speaker with arms crossed.
“[It’s them! The Reds’ interceptor squadron!]”
“[Damn it, we’re escorting bombers so our altitude is low! We’ve ceded altitude advantage while flying sluggish!]”
Amidst the urgent radio chatter, the squadron leader’s thick voice rang out clearly.
“[All aircraft, do not panic!]”
“[It’s time to unwrap the presents. Auxiliary fuel tanks, jettison!]”
Click—! Whoosh—!
The large, monstrous tin cans hanging under the fighter wings detached all at once and began to plunge into the sea.
And immediately after.
“[Wha, what? The aircraft got lighter!]”
“[Output one hundred percent! Nose up!]”
The Empire’s fighters, which had been unbearably sluggish, began to surge upward toward the heavens.
The enemy, who had misjudged the operational capabilities of the Empire’s fighters, could only be shocked.
“[Wh-what is this…! Their rate of climb is insan— ugh!]”
“[Evasive action! Scatter immedi— kuaaack!]”
Ratatatatat—!
Machine guns spat fire, and enemy aircraft unable to evade in time were engulfed in flames and plummeted.
“[Shot down! Hostile One is down!]”
“[Second Flight, catch the tails of the ones turning left! Don’t let a single one escape alive!]”
The tide of battle reversed in an instant.