Clash with the Fallen Angel
I woke up in the morning, scarfed down a protein bar and a few vitamins, then climbed into the Nexus. I checked the drug packs for any issues before booting the system as is. The destination wasn't far off.
"Hm…."
While booting and inspecting the system, I spotted something off. The sensitivity felt weird, so I accessed the internal data in admin mode and found that several fine-tuned values had been altered.
Wasn't like this last night.
It wouldn't be strange if something went wrong with the main system during repairs. I readjusted the values to levels I was used to and restored everything to normal.
The weather outside was cloudy, as always. Light snow was forecast for the afternoon, but that didn't matter right now in the early morning.
If only a fierce blizzard would kick up instead.
This mission's target was the prototype Nexus currently in testing ops: Fallen Angel. No need to wipe out the entire base's defense forces. It'd naturally turn into a stealth infiltration, so more environmental help for sneaking in wouldn't hurt.
But with the weather not cooperating, I'd have no choice but to force a breakthrough. With that judgment made, I inspected NOUGHT. Sniper cannon, missiles, two rifles. The sniper cannon had a slight error, but the rest was fine.
Checks complete, I dropped from the mobile hangar.
> Downloading...
Along with the spy who'd infiltrated the Nexus's main system.
The bulk of the defense forces' mobile units were exo-frames. Considering that Nexus had originated from something called a "metal frame," it was a pretty contrasting name. Plenty of differences from a Nexus, but simply put, they were cannon fodder. Easy to pilot, reasonably tough, decent firepower. Basically infantry-grade enhancements.
The point was, if a Nexus went all out, exo-frames couldn't keep up due to the absolute spec gap.
Vroooom—
Six missiles streaked toward different targets, obliterating the exo-frame unit in one go. I ignored exo-frames or other weapons off the flight path and headed straight for the objective.
A few rifle bursts, and the furious voices on the comm channel quickly turned to wailing for mommy. Like a runaway train, I erased only the enemies right in front of me and pushed forward.
Boom, thud…!! Late missiles or shells from behind lost thrust or hit obstacles, scarring random spots.
The once-quiet base turned into pandemonium in moments.
The so-called Yod Sector was already breached. I spotted an exo-frame heading deep into the research base, took it down with a couple rifle shots, and pressed inward.
At this rate, I need to end the main fight as fast as possible.
If I couldn't wrap up against Fallen Angel quickly, the mountain of defense forces behind would swarm in. Vowing a swift victory, I ramped up speed. Lighter weight than before meant cruise mode covered way more ground per burst.
About three minutes later, after punching through to "Heh Sector," I finally reached Aleph Sector.
This is the facility's core lab….
A white bulkhead barred the sector. Most buildings so far had been grim exposed concrete, so this felt refreshingly novel. Almost sacred, you could say.
The bulkhead was there, but a nearby vertical catapult let me vault over easily into the lab.
A voice cut into the comm channel. Unlike the previous shrill defense screams, this one carried a deep, resonant timbre.
"……."
The latest model's test pilot. Didn't know details, but those seats usually went to ace pilots. The machine was trouble enough, but the pilot wouldn't be a pushover either.
And so, the battle kicked off with me firing the sniper cannon first.
Bang!!
The lab was an open plain, empty for easy observation—no structures at all. Just white bulkheads encircling it like a coliseum. Perfect terrain for a sniper normally, but the downside was I couldn't leverage the range advantage either. In visual-range combat, distance mattered less, and no cover meant I had nowhere to hide either. Exposed straight to the enemy's heavy weapons.
Boom, boom!!
Numerous explosive rounds fired the instant it unleashed its main cannon's unignorable firepower. Explosions chased my agile maneuvers.
I knew from the spec notes, but… its mobility was ridiculous. Pouring out that firepower, Fallen Angel caught up to me like it was nothing. Not just matching speed—we were closing distance. Imagine a heavy-armored juggernaut hopped up on steroids charging at insane velocity. My sense of normalcy shattered.
Just pulling away won't cut it…!
Whoosh! I halted my retreat, blasted boosters in reverse, and Fallen Angel shot past in an instant.
I heard the pilot yell in frustration. I spun quick and slammed the sniper cannon into its back.
Boom!
The recoil halted me briefly, and Fallen Angel barreled straight at me.
What the….
The sniper round had clearly hit its back. Yet no stagger, right back on track. Felt like staring at a tank. Sure, a real tank would have inferior specs, but basically a Nexus tank?
I tuned into the enemy pilot's words. From earlier, his tone had this snappy, hysterical edge, like he was on the verge. Was he always like that?
I probed for weak points amid the dogfight.
Boom!!
Before long, I was using the sniper cannon backwards—firing at close range on approach.
Even the enemy pilot called it out. Should've brought a bazooka if I knew. Anyway, no time to drag this out.
The pilot snapped at his own support's comms now, annoyed. Click—some channel forcibly cut off beyond the comms.
Too out of breath to banter. Constant heavy fire had my frame's durability teetering. But the enemy's was chipped plenty too.
If we keep trading linearly, I'll lose obviously….
But on my end, strike sudden openings—my specialty. Hadn't rammed it head-on yet. Soon as the chance came, I'd slam it.
Lurking for a backstab shot, the enemy pilot kept talking.
Getting all hyped on his own.
The pilot muttered.
That voice was starting to slur somehow.