A few Meowficers and Manjuus run past Alicorn as she enters a briefing room, filled to the brim. Alicorn sees dozens of familiar faces, Including Strider and Cyclops squadrons.

  Prez looks nervous, but Fre pats her back and ughs. Jaeger is looking at several messages on his phone, Count looks rather bored as he leans back in his chair. Húxiān twiddles her thumbs as her knee is bouncing. Lanza is eating a corndog he got a few minutes earlier, and Tailor lets out a loud yawn. Fencer is writing something down in a notebook.

  The room then goes quiet as Commander Silica enters the room from a door on the side. A Meowficer follows right behind her, and jumps onto a podium as Silica reaches it.

  Silica clears her throat after letting out a quiet sigh. The Meowficer turns on a rge TV behind Silica.

  "To-To-To-oday will be the turning point of the war. It's been a long 3 months, but today will change it all." Silica then grabs a remote and presses a button, it shows Europe and Asia, most of it's red, but there a several rge blue spots, mostly on the coasts. "As you all know, the Sirens have brought back the Arsenal Bird, controlling the skies of Northern Parliament. So, Iron Blood has generously given us a Prototype weapon, for a long-range attack. The Schwere Gustav."

  The monitor zooms into a small blue zone in Ukraine, the Kyiv, the Capital. Just on the border of rge red circle, the Arsenal Bird's patrol zone.

  "Iron Blood has been secretly putting it together for the past few weeks, having to slowly bring the parts in and put it together. But they've noticed. The enemy is keeping a tight lock on Northern Parliament, even getting near the boarder can cause a massive retaliation. But currently the final touches are being put together on the cannon. Once preparations are complete, it will be able to fire."

  Several blue forces are shown around the cannon, stationed a mile outside the city.

  "However, the officer in charge has yet to confirm whether it can be fired more then once. In other words, it is looking like we may have only one chance to be able to bring down the nearly Invulnerable Arsenal Bird. We're going all in on this one pn. The Separatist forces have detected our movements and are marching on Kyiv."

  Several red lines surround Kyiv.

  "The Arsenal Bird is closing in, but if our operation goes as pnned, we should be able to shoot it down before it reaches the operation area."

  Several blue circles appear around the cannon.

  "We've set up strongpoints we call 'Menhirs' around the Cannon. Provide them with air support, while keeping air superiority. Our mission is to protect the Gustav until it can shoot down that monster bird. If we can shoot it down, my team will enter Northern Parliament in the morning, and cut the head off the snake. Gustav is our only way of brining down the Arsenal Bird. Missing is a luxury we cannot afford."

  Then the map zooms out to show rge blue circles around the Baltic Sea and the Bck Sea

  "Two fleets of ships will be on standby, to prevent any Siren reinforcements. Bizmark and her fleet will be in the Baltic Sea, and Hornet's in the Bck sea. They have been instructed to retreat if they come across Equus, so we must pray she doesn't show. And during this operation, Eagle Union forces will be pushing on Normandy, wedging our way into Enemy occupied Iris Orthodoxy."

  The map then zooms back into Kyiv.

  "Today will be one for the history books, so be prepared for bloodshed. Today maybe the bloodiest day in history. God speed, and may he have mercy on you all."

  With that, Silica exits the room, and everyone starts whispering to each other. Alicorn takes a deep breath, dread filling her heart. A hand is pce on her shoulder and she looks up, seeing Enterprise nodding down at her.

  "Are you ready?" Enterprise asks in a soft tone.

  "Yes." Alicorn whispers back.

  Enterprise smiles. "Good, let's go get ready."

  Alicorn nods and she leaves the room with Enterprise. Her vison glitches for a few seconds, causing a headache. She rubs her head as she bits her lip.

  .

  .

  .

  Through the Veil19.Sep.1943 Kyiv (Ukraine) 50.4504° N, 30.5245° E Clou Cover: Few Clouds Operation: Dragon Breath

  Defend the Gustav Cannon

  Baxterbro

  Arms rings out as soldiers run about concrete bunkers around the Gustav Cannon. Dozens of personal are moving about the cannon, putting together the final pieces. Several rge enclosed trucks have wires coming out of them, and going into the Gustav Cannon.

  The sun begins its descent in the sky, casting an orange glow over everyone.

  Alicorn, on top of her Mig-29k with her rigging out, flies into the airspace, Strider Squadron flies behind her. A little ways to her right is Enterprise, On her Dougss SBD Dauntless, with Cyclops Squadron behind her. The humans have their own jets this time.

  They see the cannon in the distance, with the city of Kyiv just in front of it. Friendly tanks roll into the town with soldiers following behind.

  Suddenly the coms come alive with Major McOnie.

  <>

  Then Warrant Officer Lehmann speaks over coms.

  <>

  Alicorn looks over to Enterprise and the two nod to each other, breaking off into different directions. Alicorn taking the right, and Enterprise taking the left. Their respecting squads following them.

  Fre speaks up over the radio. <>

  Prez then speaks over the radio. <

  Several enemy ground units appear over the horizon, along with air reinforcements. Alicorn pulls back the string on her crossbow, and pces a bolt.

  <> Húxiān asks over the radio. <>

  Fre then speaks.<>

  <> Count asks. <>

  <> Fre says. <>

  Alicorn nose dives down and gun runs a set of Half-tracks being guarded by some tanks. Taking out a couple of the Half-tracks, and using AGMs to blow up the tanks. She aims her crossbow at the remining half-track and fires, blowing it up as the arrow strikes it.

  Lanza then speaks over the radio. <>

  <> Fencer follows. <>

  Alicorn doubles back as AA trucks fire onto her, but they're swiftly blown up by Strider Squad.

  <>

  <>

  AWACS Long Caster replies over the radio. <>

  "I'm on it." Alicorn says as she puts an hand over her right ear, flipping her jet back towards the Cannon.

  <>

  Alicorn gun runs a column of tanks, blowing up a couple and damaging the others. Strider Squad follows through and takes down the remining tanks.

  <>

  An enemy jet strafe runs past Alicorn, she rolls to the side, barely avoiding the rounds. Her rigging roars in anger, and fires rapidly onto the enemy jet. One of the shells blows off the enemy jet's wing, sending it crashing to the ground.

  Alicorn takes her jet to the skies, and starts stalking enemy jets, taking them down one by one.

  <>

  > Long Caster informs as Alicorn flies through a fireball that was a jet.

  Major McOnie then speaks over the radio. <

  >

  <> WO Lehmann says.

  <> Prez shouts.

  Alicorn puts on her air brakes and lowers her thrust, and the enemy jet shoots past her. She then locks on and releases a pair of missiles, taking the jet out of the sky.

  <>

  Smoke stacks rise in the sky every around the cannon and near the city. A bright fsh goes off in the distance as a tank blows up.

  <> Count says with sarcasm.

  Alicorn checks her radar and sees a dozen enemy air units flying towards them. She huffs in annoyance and turns her pne towards them.

  <> Long Caster informs. <>

  Enterprise then speaks over the radio. <>

  "Already on it." Alicorn replies.

  Alicorn speeds off towards the bombers, her engines running hot.

  <>

  <>

  Alicorn reaches the bombers and lets her missiles fly, going through the middle of the formations, bullets fly around her. Her rigging open fire onto the other bombers, while the rest of Strider squad deal with escorts.

  WO Lehmann is heard over the radio.

  <>

  <> Major McOnie says. <>

  Alicorn flips through the air as bullets storm around her, and she fires down on the remining bombers.

  <> Long Caster says. <>

  Alicorn doubles back towards the cannon, unching a few arrows towards enemy tanks and trucks as she passes them.

  <>

  <>

  Alicorn looks to the side and sees a rge column of tanks firing onto Menhir 7. Blowing up the few friendly tanks it hand. She grits her teeth and turns hard and flies towards them.

  <> Jaeger swiftly follows after Alicorn.

  <> Prez says.

  strider Squad bomb runs the tank column in front of Mehnir 7, taking down most of them in the first go. They double back and quickly finish off the stragglers.

  <>

  Alicorn takes back towards the skies, and targets passing jets.

  <

  >

  <>

  Alicorn pops some fres as a pair of missiles fly after them.

  Major McOnie speaks over the radio. <

  >

  <> WO lehmann says.

  Alicorn takes down a few jets, but breaks off as several missiles track her.

  <>

  Count then speaks over the radio. <>

  <> Enterprise orders.

  <> Húxiān says.

  Alicorn using her rigging to blow up the tanks advancing onto Menhir 6. Along with the help of Enterprise, the advancing tanks are swiftly taken out.

  <>

  'I don't even drink.' Alicorn mutters in though at she scans her radar for more targets, swiftly flying off towards hostile air units.

  <>

  Alicorn heads off towards the ground units advancing towards Menhir 7.

  <>

  Alicorn fires down onto the tanks, as several mobile SAM sites fire at her.

  Major McOnie is heard over the radio. <>

  Missiles fly past Alicorn as she releases some fres with as she barrel rolls. Her team takes out the SAM sites, before they can fire again.

  <>

  Suddenly Long Caster speaks over the radio. <>

  Jaeger speaks over the radio. <>

  <> Prez shouts.

  Alicorn heads after the bombers with her squad. "We're on it!"

  Major McOnie is heard over the radio. <>

  <> WO Lehmann shouts.

  Enterprise is heard over the radio. <>

  Alicorn sees the bombers in the distance, she readies her crossbow.

  <>

  <>

  Alicorn fires her bow, it streaks through the air going through the lead bomber and out the back, blowing up as it strikes a second bomber. The lead bomber swiftly nose dives and crashes towards the ground.

  <>

  Alicorn and her team swiftly intercept the bombers, taking them out. A single bomber tries to make a break for it.

  <>

  Enterprise is heard over the radio. <>

  Alicorn unches her missiles at the st Bomber, blowing it up in a bright ball of fire.

  <> Long Caster informs.

  Alicorn heads back towards the cannon with her squad.

  <>

  Húxiān is then heard over the radio. <>

  <> Fre orders. <>

  <>

  <> Húxiān states.

  <>

  Alicorn and her team engages enemy ground units, several AA trucks fire up at them. A few pieces of shrapnel hit Alicorn's jet, but mainly just scratches the paint.

  <>

  <>

  <>

  The st of the ground units are blown up, that we're advancing towards Menhir 5.

  Lanza speaks over the radio. <>

  Alicorn takes off towards other Enemy units, regrouping with Enterprise.

  <>

  Alicorn rolls through the air as several missiles fly past her.

  <>

  <>

  Alicorn fires her crossbow down on a number of enemy tanks, blowing them up or incapacitating them.

  Long Caster then speaks over the radio. <>

  <> Count asks. <>

  <> Fre asks.

  <> Prez asks.

  Alicorn blows up another tank, seeing dozens of smoke pilrs rise to the sky.

  <>

  <>

  <> Count asks in confusion.

  Alicorn's squad takes off towards the new air targets.

  <>

  Alicorn and her team engage the new air targets, when Long Caster comes over the coms.

  <>

  <> Húxiān says. <>

  <> Major McOnie questions.

  <

  > WO Lehmann says.

  Alicorn takes down the st of the jets, and heads swiftly off towards the Bombers and their escorts. Her jet shakes a little as she throws her thrust to the max.

  <> Major McOnie says.

  Suddenly an erratic voice is heard over the radio. <>

  Long Caster is heard over the radio. <>

  Enterprise is heard over the radio. <>

  "I'll take the city." Alicorn informs as she turns her jet towards Kyiv, seeing a tall pilr of red smoke from the middle of the city.

  <>

  Alicorn reaches the city and sees rockets, fly out of buildings towards friendly units, and tanks bearing down on their position. She lets her AGMs fly and her rigging to constantly fire down onto the buildings. Midly activates his rail cannon on his head and fires down onto the buildings.

  <>

  <> Fre says. <>

  <> Jaeger states.

  A few missiles fly out from buildings and up towards Alicorn, but she pops fres and her rigging blows up the budlings.

  <>

  Soon nothing north of the friendly units, just smoke and rubble.

  <>

  Long Caster speaks over the radio. <>

  Alicorn heads back towards the cannon.

  Major McOnie is heard over the radio. <>

  Suddenly several missiles unch towards her, Alicorn does several flips and grits her teeth from the force. The missiles zooms past her, blowing up a little ways away.

  <>

  Alicorn wipes some sweat from her brow. She takes several deep breaths, before unching towards another enemy air unit.

  Major McOnie is heard over the radio. "You've given my program a lot of the time it needs. Gustav will be ready to fire shortly.>>

  Long Caster is heard over the radio. "Stand by. I'm picking up something on my radar. The signal is massive. It's the Arsenal Bird!>>

  Everyone looks off into the distance and sees the massive figure of the Arsenal Bird, drones fall from it's underbelly and fly towards them. Alicorn grits her teeth, memories from the previous one surface.

  <> Fre says.

  <> Count shouts.

  Long Caster speaks over the radio. A swarm of UAVs has unched from the Arsenal Bird! Keep them away from the Cannon.>>

  Alicorn's missile warnings bre loudly as she targets the UAVs.

  <> Major McOnie states. <>

  <>

  Alicorn takes the UAVs down, one-by-one, but struggles to keep going with all the hard turns she's forced to do, the UAVs follow closely behind her. Enterprise swoops in and targets the UAVs, giving Alicorn a little breathing room.

  <> Major McOnie asks. <>

  Wo Lehmann speaks over the radio. "Fire-control system inspection complete. Radar error correction is good to go.>>

  <>

  Alicorn takes down several more UAVs, but they never seem to stop coming.

  <> Major McOnie shouts.

  <>

  Electricity travels around the Gustav Cannon.

  <<30 seconds!>>

  <> Major McOnie informs. <>

  WO Lehmenn speaks over the radio. <

  >

  Suddenly Long Caster is heard over the radio. <>

  Alicorn snaps her head over and sees Smoke coming out the back of Skald's jet.

  <> Fre orders.

  <> Skald ejects from his jet, and his parachute deploys.

  <<15 seconds!>>

  Alicorn takes a deep breath and continues gunning down UAVs.

  <> Major McOnie asks.

  <>

  <> Major McOnie orders.

  <> WO Lehmann responds. "Commencing final countdown! Ten, nine, eight...>>

  Alicorn evades several missiles flying towards her.

  <>

  Alicorn blows up a couple UAVs, with Enterprise taking out several on her tail. Alicorn's rigging roars as it fires shells towards approaching UAVs.

  <>

  The Gustav Cannon suddenly lets out a whining sound, as it spools down.

  <> WO Lehmann orders. <>

  <> Count shouts. <>

  <>

  <> WO Lehmann informs.

  Major McOnie then speaks. <>

  Alicorn wipes some sweat forming and fires her crossbow into a UAV.

  <> WO Lehmann says. <>

  <> Count asks.

  <> Major McOnie states. <>

  <> Fre comments.

  <> Húxiān comments.

  <> Prez asks.

  Alicorn regroups with Enterprise and they tag team a dozen drones.

  <>

  <>

  <> major McOnie shouts. <>

  Long Caster then speaks over the radio. <>

  Enterprise and Alicorn nod to each other, and take off after the Arsenal Bird. Enterprise gun runs the missile unchers on it, as Alicorn fires onto the main Propellers.

  Suddenly a blue ring appears above the Arsenal Bird.

  <> Long Caster informs.

  <> Count says. <>

  Húxiān gets annoyed. <>

  Fre then speaks. <>

  Count groans. <>

  Alicorn smirks as she destroys one of the propellers. "Have I ever failed you?"

  <> Count states.

  Alicorn then unches all her remining missiles at the st propeller and blows it up. She then flips away from the Arsenal bird. Enterprise flies over to her, and the two use their machine guns on the pnes to take down several more UAVs.

  Long Caster speaks over the radio. "Alright, that takes care of the propellers. Arsenal Bird is slowing down!>>

  <> Fre says.

  Missiles fly all around Alicorn and Enterprise, but the two swiftly maneuver away from them. A few blow up near Alicorn, shrapnel hitting her arm, casing small wounds.

  <>

  <>

  <>

  Major McOnie speaks over the radio. <>

  Húxiān is heard over the radio. <

  Fencer is then heard grunting. <>

  <> Fre says. <>

  Alicorn leans down on her jet as UAVs pass overhead, her riggings fire onto the UAVs, righty seems to have run out of shells, and just roars at them in anger.

  Major McOnie is heard over the radio. <>

  Wo Lehmann is hard. <>

  Alicorn takes down several more jets.

  Long Caster speaks over the radio. <>

  Húxiān replies. <>

  Fre responds. <>

  <<...Wilco, over.>> Húxiān leaves the airspace.

  <> Enterprise says.

  Alicorn's missile warning rapidly goes off as she flies high into the air, then drops down, dozens of missiles fly past her, blowing up.

  WO Lehmann is heard. <

  >

  Long Caster then speaks. <>

  All allied jets move away from the Arsenal Bird.

  Major McOnie speaks over the radio. <>

  The Arsenal Bird's APS activates and a rge blue shield surrounds it.

  <>

  Electricity surrounds the Gustav Cannon as it aims up at the Arsenal Bird.

  <>

  <>

  <>

  <>

  The Gustav Fires, and it flies back on its rails.

  <> Major McOnie shouts.

  The shell sms through the Arsenal Bird's Shield and strikes it dead center. After a few seconds the Arsenal Bird blows up as it's shield dissipates. The Arsenal Bird breaks in half as it plunges towards the ground. The Gustav Cannon lowers as smoke exits it's barrel.

  The Arsenal Bird sms into the ground, followed by a massive explosion. Everyone starts to loudly cheer, Alicorn falls onto her jet and lets out a heavy sigh of relief.

  She turns her jet towards the Arsenal Bird's crash site, and circles around it. Smiling at seeing the burning wreckage.

  <> Count asks.

  <> Prez mutters.

  After a few seconds Major McOnie is heard. <>

  Wo Lehmann then responds. <>

  <>

  <>

  <>

  Fre ughs. <>

  Long Caster then speaks. <>

  <> Jaeger asks.

  <> Long Caster states. They've got a bottomless appetite. And I just got information on our other fronts.>>

  <> Enterprise states.

  Long Caster replies. <>

  The radio is static for a few seconds, before Bismarck's voice is heard.

  <>

  Long Caster sighs. <>

  The radio is static.

  <>

  Just more static.

  <> Prez mutters.

  Enterprise is heard. <>

  Suddenly the coms spark to life. <<...Equus is here... need..... ASAP... I repeat... Equus has engaged us... cut off... SOS!>>

  <> Long Caster sounds worried. <>

  Alicorn's heart drops. "Hang on, Hornet, we're coming!"

  All allied aircraft swift headback to base. The battle isn't over yet.

  <> Fre orders.

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  05-05-2025

  3000 words.