“Reconnaissance team, launch!”
From the field airfield built in the suburbs of the Prawa Theocracy’s Holy Capital, reconnaissance aircraft took off one after another.
Stealth Reconnaissance Aircraft LSRF-1 ＜Little Owl＞.
A jet aircraft developed for aerial reconnaissance, maximizing stealth in the microwave range.
It is particularly specialized in concealing itself from radar waves and is basically invisible to radar. However, it has no concealment capabilities in the visible light or Sound Wave ranges.
It is designed to deal with Threat Creature that react to microwaves.
“Target location, ＜Trout Nursery＞. Estimated time of arrival, 40 minutes.”
“According to Amadio-san’s information, there might be some Monsters…”
Eve muttered while looking at the information coming from the reconnaissance team ＜Scout A＞ controlled by Akane.
Currently, they are trying to gather information about ＜Trout Nursery＞, Duke Amadio Silverhead’s former base. As a first step, they started aerial reconnaissance.
“Onee-sama! According to recorded information, multiple flying Monsters have been confirmed! The timestamps are over 100 years old, so the ecosystem may have changed, but even so, aerial intrusion might be difficult!”
Even so.
Based on the information they had, even aerial reconnaissance was deemed dangerous. The flying machines owned by Amadio Salmon seemed to have been shot down by Monsters at a very early stage.
Moreover, they were swarmed by a large number of Monsters. It seems they were destroyed by an attack from small Monsters, not large Threat Creature.
Fortunately, the flying Monsters didn’t seem to attack the ground.
“That being said, direct dispatch is still good for improving the accuracy of information.”
“Yes, Onee-sama. The precision of the onboard Sensor has also improved. We should actively dispatch externally from now on.”
With the acquisition of a large amount of resources, the production of rare materials has also increased proportionally. Therefore, it has become possible to manufacture higher-performance equipment.
Not only have there been minor performance improvements, but new technology systems have also been unlocked.
“The jet engines have improved combustion temperature, increased output, improved fuel efficiency, and reduced weight. I heard that the Little Owls are in pre-production, how is that going?”
“…Operational data is increasing. Ichigo said that the Little Owls will be dispatched to the Northern Continent for investigation, assuming they will be expendable…”
Olive, who is adjusting the production equipment at Fortress Two (Black Iron), answered Eve’s question.
Olive is currently identifying and improving the problems with the pre-production models of the ＜Little Owl＞ and preparing the mass production line.
Once the line is operational, hundreds of aircraft will be supplied per day.
“…Without a control aircraft, they can’t move flexibly…”
The Little Owl is a reconnaissance aircraft and cannot closely coordinate information with a rear base. Since radio communication is very conspicuous, it is intended for independent action (stand-alone) or operation in small units centered on a control aircraft.
However, especially in stand-alone mode, the amount of information that can be processed is limited, so there is no room to install a high-performance processor capable of advanced thinking.
Therefore, they are planning a unit accompanied by a large control aircraft.
“The control aircraft is also a stealth type, right? Oh, and it has an Active Stealth function.”
It would be best if they could be made invisible in the first place, but that becomes more difficult as the aircraft gets larger. Moreover, given the function of control, it is necessary to transmit some kind of information to the outside. Concealing that would cut off communication with the controlled aircraft.
Therefore, the control aircraft incorporates a new Active Stealth device.
This is equipped with both optical camouflage, which manipulates the surface color of the aircraft, and electromagnetic camouflage, which emits deceptive radio waves.
“Well, it’s unclear how effective it will be against Threat Creature! We hardly know anything about their other sensory organs, let alone Bio-Radar!”
And as Asahi says, even with aircraft with stealth capabilities, their effectiveness cannot be evaluated.
For example, it is certain that the ＜Wyvern＞ has Bio-Radar that uses microwaves, but that does not mean that it does not have other means of detection.
If there is a Magic (Fantasy)-like method of searching, it cannot be deceived.
“We have to do it by trial and error. I don’t want to do anything careless and attract a large number of Threat Creature.”
“If we are invaded by ＜The Reflector＞ in the current situation, the Prawa Theocracy’s forces will not be able to resist.”
Akane is right.
＜The Tree＞ has greatly improved its strength by gaining territory, but it has not gained enough power to repel all the observed Threat Creature.
To counter them, it is necessary to analyze and understand the mysterious technology of Magic (Fantasy) and learn to handle it.
“That being said, Onee-sama. ＜Scout A＞ is approaching the target area. Observation can begin within 10 minutes.”
“Oh, it’s already that close.”
When they continue chatting, about 30 minutes pass quickly.
The formation of ＜Little Owl＞ flying at subsonic speed at an altitude of 8,000m had already reached the Demon Forest area.
So far, nothing has happened, but it is still the outer edge of the Demon Forest, and there is a distance from the depths where the problematic Monsters are thought to appear.
“Well, a little more. If the safety of the sky can be confirmed, we can dispatch a Rotorcraft for investigation…”
If they can send out aircraft, the distance constraints can be almost eliminated.
The quantitative problem can also be dealt with by shuttle transport, unless it is something extraordinary.
Moving on the ground to the site is too difficult. If aircraft can be used, the time can be greatly reduced…
“Detecting a large number of biological reactions. Onee-sama. Something has appeared.”
“Ugh. I knew they were there…”
“Oh, Onee-sama! It seems that flying creatures have appeared!”
But Eve’s wishes were in vain, and ＜Scout A＞ reported an anomaly.
Akane displays the detected information on the Command Room’s display.
“Primary analysis. Group of 3, number of detections, between 140 and 220. Body length, 2m to 3m. Appearing from the forest, ascending. Flight speed fluctuating.”
“Onee-sama! They’re Monsters, definitely Monsters! The group is ascending vertically! The speed is over 400km/h!”
＜Scout A＞, for the mission of reconnaissance, each aircraft is taking a large interval. The distance between the aircraft is about 1km. They are in a diamond formation, and a flock of flying Monsters seemed to be rising towards the leading aircraft.
“Video, display.”
The Little Owl in the rear transmitted the captured video. The video was processed in real time and displayed on the Command Room’s display.
“…Peacocks?”
And the creatures shown there were birds with long tails like peacocks. Reflecting the sunlight, their feathers and bodies glittered.
“Secondary analysis. 183 targets. Average body length is 3m, wingspan is 2m. Flight speed expected to reach 900km/h.”
“Wow, these Monsters are about to catch up with the Little Owl!”
The cruising speed of the Little Owl is about 900km/h. It is a subsonic speed that does not reach the speed of sound.
Sonic Boom, a loud noise, occurs during supersonic flight, so it is naturally not suitable for reconnaissance flights.
It is an aircraft that pursues speed to the limit while avoiding that, but the Monsters were trying to approach that speed while rising vertically.
“Distance, less than 1km.”
“Peacocks flying at subsonic speed…?”
Eve with a dumbfounded expression, Akane reporting calmly. And Asahi, who started analyzing information with glee.
“Confirming a luminous phenomenon.”
“Ah! The Sensors!”
“Eh?”
Then, a yellow flash occurred from the group of peacocks. At that moment, the leading Little Owl exploded.
Well, it’s about time to dispatch to the Demon Forest in earnest. This is that phase, but as expected, there is a baptism…
This is that episode. Yes.
Updates have resumed. Thank you for waiting.
No, I had trouble with Volume 3, and finally uploaded the first draft.
The release date is still undecided, so please wait for a while!