"...So Mekibos fell after all. Dead?"
"Yes. Inspector intel confirms Greaterkin's signature—gone."
"Got it. Dismissed."
"Yes, sir!"
I watched the mass-produced W depart, silently praying for Mekibos' soul.
He's probably still alive now, but who knows where we'll be when Wendro downs him. Better pray here.
"Axel, what's wrong?"
Vindel approached in Dolm's corridor, eyeing me curiously.
"Nothing. Just heard Mekibos bought it."
"Yeah, seems so. Hiryu Kai and Kurogane—what else? But W16 caught something nasty. Ops room—now."
Nasty? In this Aerinst siege? Hard to top. Guess ops will clarify.
"Roger. Let's move."
"...Gravitational anomaly?"
Lemon's question—Echidna nodded.
"Yes. Weak, but enveloping Dolm."
"Aerinst work?"
"Ninety-nine percent. Only they pull that nonsense."
Lemon answered Vindel.
Yeah, no one else could. Dolm's smaller than White Star but colony-scale. Wrapping that in gravity distortion...
Active factions left: Shadow Mirror, Inspectors, Federation—really just Hiryu Kai and Kurogane. And Aerinst.
Unknown players? Possible, but endless speculation. Shelf it.
"Gravity anomalies—new pattern. ...Bad feeling. Vindel, shift Trinity Gain from Shirogane to Dolm?"
"Mm. Move every usable unit here."
As Vindel decided—alarms blared.
"Aerinst again?"
"Who knows. Lee, sitrep?"
Comms to Lee on standby in Shirogane—closer to the front.
Predictably, Lee's report was sharp.
"Axel? Third defense line—Aerinst transfer. Scale matches last wave."
"Intercept?"
Vindel's face hardened. Gravity + transfers = endgame vibes?
"Inspectors deploying Aguiha squad. Us?"
"Shifting Trinity to Dolm. Hold until then."
...Time for me.
"Lemon—mass-prod XN on Grow Saver?"
"Y-Yeah. But like I said—range is trash. Energy dictates distance; Chronos Engine helps, but calc says 20-30 km max."
"Plenty to work with. Vindel—I'm out."
Lemon cut in.
"Axel, chaos mounting. Wait till we read it."
"That's why. Need to be ready to move now."
Turning to Vindel:
"W17, Beowolf, Raoul's crew—they're inbound, right?"
"Yeah."
Short nod.
"Greeting them? My honor—fought 'em too many times."
"Axel..."
"Lemon, drop the worry. Think I'll lose? Plus Helios, Excellen."
"But..."
"Not like you. Send me off smiling—I'll come back to you."
Light kiss, stroking her peach hair.
"Hehe."
She giggled mid-stroke. Curious:
"What?"
"Classic death flag, no?"
"...Ah."
Maybe. But I've clawed this far to live. Snap that flag in half.
One more kiss—then to Vindel.
"Vindel, numbers for them. Post-Trinity move, swing Shirogane out. Lee's in."
"Understood."
Confirmed nod—hangar bound.
"...That the one."
Monitor: Alto Eisen-lookalike Aerinst. Aerinst Eisen. Dual Lanze Kanone deployed—trigger pulled.
Beams lanced through, scattering Alto parts into void.
Scanning for stragglers—Aguiha's Silberwind flashed, high-frequency swords carving Aerinst with speed.
"Third line clear."
Echidna, covering rear in Vaisaga, replied.
"Yes. Only outer perimeter Aerinst left. But..."
"Yeah. Mistime retreat—they swarm by numbers."
"Captain, fall back if needed. Lemon ordered me to guard you..."
"Loyal to Lemon—noble. But bigger priorities exist."
"That makes me defective like W17."
"Defective? Doubt it. You've ego rivaling W17. No flaws I see."
"Me... like W17?"
Echidna pondered—Aguiha commed.
"Axel, sorry—out of ammo. Mind holding?"
"Roger. We got this. Rest up."
"Sweet—thanks."
Silberwind retreated. Casual tone, but intent clear: burn us out.
Fair. Allies of convenience—Shadow Mirror and Inspectors both scheming.
And me, planning to betray even them.
Lee commed from Shirogane rear.
"S28 field—new Aerinst transfer pings. All units, alert!"
Simultaneous—multiple transfers. Not just Alto mimics—armor, bone, plant mix.
"These sporadic hits... stalling?"
"With gravity report—Aerinst trapping us in Dolm?"
"Who knows. Full surround with overwhelming numbers would do it. No mass wave means..."
Familiar resonance hit—psychic sync.
...They're here. As hoped, final stage. Twenty years post-rebirth—short, brutal survival saga hits climax.
"Aerinst goals, these attacks—they'd know."
"They?"
Lee, puzzled. Next instant—Shirogane radar lit: Kurogane, Hiryu Kai. Alarms.
"This signature!?"
"You know. Lose once, twice—never break. Always rise, block our path... Kurogane and Hiryu Kai."
As if cued, black-and-red hulls charged the sector.
Before we or Aerinst moved—PTs and AMs launched, battle-ready.
Standout: Alt Eisen Riese—limbs regrown post-Langley, upgraded. Size same, but weapons bulked—heavier menace.
Weissritter? Barely recognizable. Canon Aerinst puppetry here too—freed, but fused. Bio-weapon vibes. Wings? Demonic bat. Red gem shattered freed Excellen... but knowing Beowolf's mutation? I'd never pilot Aerinst-tainted metal. Game fave, real life—hard pass.
Every ace unit deployed.
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