Raid on the Deep Space Observatory
Clack clack. I fiddled with the controls of NOUGHT, finally ready for deployment after so long.
Two weeks piloting the Fallen Angel hadn't even given me time to adjust to the shifted senses before I had to launch right away.
Whatever, no problem.
Click. I connected the neural link port to the Nexus.
Flash—my senses expanded in an instant, my mind clearing sharp and clean.
Supporting the mission.
Before launch, I'd ripped off the rear armor of the Nexus and removed the unauthorized parts ahead of time. Hermann had added them as pilot safety devices.
I don't know what they were exactly, so I just yanked off the biggest ones.
Even so, the awakening rush when linking was back somewhat. The smaller auxiliary modules left could wait—I'd get the data later and remove them then.
Anyway.
Senses were sharp. Even better than before, now with AAE's assist devices.
I felt every part of the Nexus like extensions of my own body, then dropped from the mobile hangar.
Vroooom—
Target 2km ahead. No sign they've noticed yet.
Low-altitude flight hugging the ridgeline—it was only natural.
But I wasn't aiming for stealth. The goal was total annihilation of their forces.
It didn't take long for the enemy comms channel to glitch with interference. A soldier's voice, sounding like he'd spotted something off.
Their forces were a mixed bag: exo frames, ground units, air support. Normally, a Nexus charging in would have them panicking, but their voice was eerily calm.
Too calm.
Did they think they could win? Or...
Do they have a Nexus too?
Hermann might not have scouted some extra defenses. I braced for shifts and hit the first unit.
Dozens of exo frames moved like a single organism, weaving an organic barrage. The instant blaze engulfing everything was quite the spectacle.
Not bad.
I burst through gaps in bursts, diagonally up, down. Then I body-slammed a helicopter from the sky, exploding it, and unleashed full firepower on the exo frame unit.
No personal gripes, just relaying orders straight. That was textbook, but things rarely go by the book. People get emotional.
This unit's discipline rivaled any elite squad.
Even as they flowed like waves or rivers, the exo frames blocked my advance as much as possible.
But they're still just exo frames.
Less helpless than past units, but they were thinning out all the same. Sharper senses sped my reactions, and above all...
I see everything.
Boosted neural sensitivity and processing from the assists let me integrate camera feeds with radar data—tangible and intangible alike. In this split-second battlefield, it felt like eyes in the back of my head.
I flinched at that. Rank 27 already?
Oh.
Right, I'd taken out Gabriel last mission. Guess I inherited his spot.
Makes sense—nothing measures combat power like a win.
Anyway, hearing that shook the enemy unit visibly.
While I mopped up exo frames, intel came back.
They had plenty to say, but choked it back. Even over comms, I felt their gritted teeth.
Boom! Kaboom!! Explosions ripped across the field.
Beyond the exo frames' defensive line...
That’s…
A cluster of massive dish antennas came into view, tilted skyward.
Deep Space Observatory.
Why did my chest tighten? Logically, just giant metal husks pointing nowhere, but they embodied raw human curiosity.
Thud! A missile meant for a chopper whiffed and exploded far off.
Shit.
Goal was seizure, not destruction. Hermann needed those antennas intact.
Vrooo—I consciously gained altitude, directing fire downward where possible.
Intel op's tone shifted. Something changed.
I narrowed my eyes. Support after all.
With the order, exo frames started pulling back gradually. Even when I flanked, they held formation, keeping pressure on.
Honestly, impressive...
Not just gear—their troops outclassed megacorp quality. No wonder Hermann called them unidentified forces.
If this was typical gang trash, the world would've ended ages ago.
Beep, beep! Amid their retreat, I danced through the barrage, circus-style, pouring missiles to thin them max.
A familiar voice cut through the channel. A single signal approaching from afar.
Nexus.
Sure enough. I clocked it, stopped chasing exo frames, and pulled back hard.
Too much to handle both at once.
Average exo trash? No issue. But this was an elite setup.
I widened the gap and ID'd the incoming Nexus.
Standard model?
Frame and paint... looked familiar.
Fought something like it before.
The Nexus halted abruptly. The man's voice filled with dismay.
Nexus ID locked: LONG JOURNEY.
Good. That's his starting point, then.
I switched boosters to cruise, maxed throttle...
...to close in.
But the enemy turned tail without hesitation the moment it saw me and bolted.
Nexus LONG JOURNEY leaving battlefield. Appears to be fleeing.
Too stunned to pursue, I just stared at the retreating Nexus's back.
Quite perplexing.
Rinne muttered in my head. First time I agreed in ages.
The ever-calm exo unit finally panicked, lines breaking as they fled en masse. Even they lost it when their Nexus bailed.
"……."
[…….]
Venice Deep Space Observatory.
Seized without facility damage.
The mobile hangar touched down on the makeshift landing strip as guided.
I disconnected the neural port from the Nexus and climbed out of the cockpit.
Walking's still awkward.
Plop—I sank into the wheelchair.
Hiss—cool air rushed in as the hangar hatch opened.
Under the sleet-falling sky.
"Long time no see, Rabe."
Hermann recycled his message greeting, welcoming me in front of the hangar.