“Tell me about it. Just having a control center to keep watch over the long range makes a world of difference.”
We can’t leave everything up to the controller, but with another trustworthy pair of eyes on our side, we can at least focus more on our immediate surroundings.
And yet… And yet.
“It works out well for us, Colonel, having a controller here on the ground. But…is that really for the best?”
Isn’t it reckless? My adjutant’s expression says it all. Even I don’t feel great about the fact that back-line support—especially such skilled and irreplaceable personnel—have been forced to join us on a one-way trip. At the same time, however, they are here already, so we might as well use them, I suppose.
“It’s a matter of on-site decision-making, I guess. To be honest, I’m happy to have air control support, especially when it’s provided by a veteran with experience on the Rhine front.”
I wonder how a control team wound up on the transport sent to the Federation Army’s Second Area Army Command. Unless the controllers themselves asked to be taken along, someone must have forced them to evacuate with us. That means they must have sniffed out that a large-scale mobilization of mages was in the works and wormed their way on board.
It makes no sense to me. This is almost certainly going to be a one-way trip…
Managing to keep that thought to myself, I focus on confirming the lay of the land, which is visible now that the sun is coming up. The chokepoint has indeed been sealed. There is no doubt remaining: the enemy is going to swarm us. We can hunker down, but even the control staff is going to take a beating from all sides…
“Everyone wants to be a hero…”
Hmph. I change focus with a grunt. This must be a worthwhile investment from the Empire’s point of view, all those transports being thrown away just for the sake of an airborne operation.
At just around 700 troops, it is possible to manage with only captured supplies. The assumption is that, since magic divisions are being deployed, so long as it is treated as a one-way trip, logistics can be managed from whatever goods we capture. Thus, to maximize the efficiency of this small number of mages, who are being sent to sever communication lines, it is likely rational to also send a small number of specialists with them—one-way, of course—who will be treated as disposable.
Fortunately, the controllers have come with us voluntarily—much more inspiring than having someone forcibly disposed of. The madness of war is an incredible thing.
“Theater-wide warning, theater-wide warning. This is Rhine Control to all mage units in the area. Multiple enemy mage units are launching. Several battalions are currently approaching all three positions at rapid speed.”
I smirk as the controller’s voice crackles in my ear. Both sides are hard at work now, it seems, as am I. But when it comes to war, humans like to take their jobs seriously. Perhaps it is the effect of regimented training.
And yet… And yet.
It is all well and good to have reservations about being a cog. But if I am to remain whole, self-sufficient, and avoid being disposed of as a defective cog, Tanya herself must first survive.
“The enemy mages are maintaining an average altitude of 7,500.”
That seems like an arbitrary height at which to fly. Well, it’s not as if these are ace pilots who can choose any altitude they like.
“I think the move is to light them up from above.”
An intercept plan using the difference in altitude to our advantage. It’s familiar work; I have already made the arrangements in my head and am about to dispatch the troops when the controller’s voice interrupts me with something new.
“Salamander 01, this is Rhine Control. There’s something strange about the signal from the enemy mages. Are you picking this up, too?”
“Rhine Control, I’m not seeing anything. What is it?”
“My monitoring equipment here is Commonwealth issue, so I may not be used to the difference yet, but…I’m occasionally picking up another, weaker signal mixed in with the signatures flying at 7,500.”
“Static? Or do you think there’s some enemy deception going on?”
“I’m not sure. Based on the quality of the signal, it looks like it might be coming from the ground. I can’t see below the horizon on this equipment. I’m sorry, but could you check from there?”
Naturally, I respond.
“Long-range observation is it? No problem.”
The controller is a pro. If they think something seems off, it would be foolish not to take those concerns seriously. To be safe, I call out to my men, “I need two people to climb! Rhine Control, I’m sending up some spotters. I’ll send you the observation data.”
“I got it,” shouts First Lieutenant Grantz in madcap fashion as he zooms into the sky.
“Ah…? Huh. Colonel, I’m picking up a mana signal from the ground! There’s definitely a signal there!”
“What are they doing? Tank desant?”
“No, their speed is almost exactly the same as the group flying at 7,500. They might be flying NOE.”
I whistle, impressed at the professional skill of the controller, who was able to pick up on the enemy mages even without look-down capabilities. If they hadn’t noticed that something was off, we might have been hit by a last-minute response from an undetected threat.
“Rhine Control, this is Salamander 01. Your hunch was spot-on. Can you process what our spotters picked up with your equipment over there?”
“Salamander 01, I have confirmed. This… Wait, it looks like they have a large contingent of amateurs flying on top, and some skilled fliers hugging the earth below.”
“Exactly.” I nod, agreeing with the sharp-eyed controller’s suspicions.
“Their real goal is probably to attack the base while we’re tied up with the decoy above. Not a bad trick… Too bad for them that there’s nothing worse than a magic show when the trick has already been given away.”
“I’ll issue a warning to the rest of the theater. Salamander 01, thanks for your help.”
As the controller hastily cuts transmission, likely to warn friendly troops. I smile uncomfortably. It’s good to have a pro on our side. Had we kept all our attention on the enemy flying at 7,500, unaware of what was waiting below, we might have completely overlooked that group. But the Federation mages have now lost their chance.
Yes, it is good to have specialists on your side. Anything that can be left to experts is almost always better handled by them. Specialized knowledge deserves respect.
“All right. Now that control has done their job, it’s time to do ours.”
I give new orders to the unit, still en route toward the enemy, instructing them to adopt a two-phased formation.
“After we cross the enemy’s diversionary unit, commence with concentrated fire at the enemy mage unit flying closer to the terrain. Unilateral fire from a height advantage of 7,000, except for one company to fortify the rear. This is in the bag.”
“Understood,” shout the troops, who clearly know what they’re doing.