JAM formations. The JAM fighters quickly detected the pursuit and the two groups of planes began to maneuver. Rei flicked the dogfight switch to OFF with the tip of his finger, transferring the Knights’ gun control from Yukikaze to the individual units so that they could attack on their own judgment. Since the control protocol was hastily installed temporary logic, he couldn’t give them advance guidance control. Rei left it to the Knights themselves.
The data transmitted by the Knights was projected onto the HUD as he watched. The three enemy craft were coming into the Knights’ firing range when one of the JAM pulled a snap turn and rushed at Knight-I to attack. Knight-II provided cover, crossing Knight-I’s flight path, and a firing cue appeared on the HUD as Knight-II opened up with its laser cannon, annihilating the JAM fighter. Knight-I continued straight along the clear path that had been opened up for it, with Knight-II now to its rear, providing backup.
The other two JAM moved into a fighting wing formation, closing on their target at supersonic speed. Now that it had become apparent that they’d most likely lose in a dogfight, the JAM to the rear seemed to be sacrificing themselves to shield the nuclear missile carrier that was now in the lead, and worse still, accelerating.
Knight-V charged forward and began firing its laser at the fighters as soon as they were in range. A hit.
Having lost its escorts, the last JAM flew on, staying just outside of firing range. They were now barely six minutes from the target point.
This was all happening too far away to be seen by his naked eye, so Rei watched it on his HUD and on the multidisplay below. Humans aren’t necessary, huh? he thought bitterly. Colonel Guneau had died in battle precisely because humans were necessary to the fight. Rei could feel it in his skin, as though he’d been struck. That’s right, he thought. I’m the one who’s fighting here . It wasn’t the JAM versus Earth machines: it was the JAM versus people, just as Major Booker had said. It was just so obvious, but… Watching the movements of the JAM and the Knights on the displays was more than enough to cause his misgivings to well up. He was beset by a powerful feeling of alienation, as though his mechanical allies were fighting of their own accord.
Maybe they are, Rei thought as a shudder traveled down his spine. Perhaps it wasn’t such an obvious truth that people were necessary to the fight. The JAM were aliens. It wouldn’t be so incredible for them to believe that it was machines, not humans, that ruled Earth.
Humanity believed that the JAM had arbitrarily attacked them, but perhaps Earth’s machines had accepted the JAM’s declaration of war. If that were true, then humans had no reason to be in this war. If that were true, then the JAM and Earth’s machines might regard this as their fight, one that humans had no place in.
Rei gave his head a quick shake, as though to drive the thought from his mind. That’s crazy.
“Targets increasing velocity. Speed now three-zero… The Knights can’t catch up to them.”
Before Burgadish had even finished speaking, Rei had keyed the dogfight switch to ON and pulled the trigger. Knight-I and V, nearest to the targeted JAM, fired their lasers. There was a long delay from Knight-II, or rather, it seemed like a long delay but was not even five seconds. Target detonation. Knight-I and V couldn’t avoid being caught in the heart of the nuclear blast. However, Knight-II quickly changed course and fled. Almost as though it were alive.
“B-3,” came the call from the control plane. “Send K-II to the target indicated. What’s wrong, B-3? You want the Knight to get lost?”
Rei came to himself again. He released his finger from the trigger. The stores control panel read RDY FK II.
Knight-I and V had disappeared. Flipping the dogfight switch to OFF, he guided Knight-II to its next target.
“Come back alive,” Rei murmured. At
The data transmitted by the Knights was projected onto the HUD as he watched. The three enemy craft were coming into the Knights’ firing range when one of the JAM pulled a snap turn and rushed at Knight-I to attack. Knight-II provided cover, crossing Knight-I’s flight path, and a firing cue appeared on the HUD as Knight-II opened up with its laser cannon, annihilating the JAM fighter. Knight-I continued straight along the clear path that had been opened up for it, with Knight-II now to its rear, providing backup.
The other two JAM moved into a fighting wing formation, closing on their target at supersonic speed. Now that it had become apparent that they’d most likely lose in a dogfight, the JAM to the rear seemed to be sacrificing themselves to shield the nuclear missile carrier that was now in the lead, and worse still, accelerating.
Knight-V charged forward and began firing its laser at the fighters as soon as they were in range. A hit.
Having lost its escorts, the last JAM flew on, staying just outside of firing range. They were now barely six minutes from the target point.
This was all happening too far away to be seen by his naked eye, so Rei watched it on his HUD and on the multidisplay below. Humans aren’t necessary, huh? he thought bitterly. Colonel Guneau had died in battle precisely because humans were necessary to the fight. Rei could feel it in his skin, as though he’d been struck. That’s right, he thought. I’m the one who’s fighting here . It wasn’t the JAM versus Earth machines: it was the JAM versus people, just as Major Booker had said. It was just so obvious, but… Watching the movements of the JAM and the Knights on the displays was more than enough to cause his misgivings to well up. He was beset by a powerful feeling of alienation, as though his mechanical allies were fighting of their own accord.
Maybe they are, Rei thought as a shudder traveled down his spine. Perhaps it wasn’t such an obvious truth that people were necessary to the fight. The JAM were aliens. It wouldn’t be so incredible for them to believe that it was machines, not humans, that ruled Earth.
Humanity believed that the JAM had arbitrarily attacked them, but perhaps Earth’s machines had accepted the JAM’s declaration of war. If that were true, then humans had no reason to be in this war. If that were true, then the JAM and Earth’s machines might regard this as their fight, one that humans had no place in.
Rei gave his head a quick shake, as though to drive the thought from his mind. That’s crazy.
“Targets increasing velocity. Speed now three-zero… The Knights can’t catch up to them.”
Before Burgadish had even finished speaking, Rei had keyed the dogfight switch to ON and pulled the trigger. Knight-I and V, nearest to the targeted JAM, fired their lasers. There was a long delay from Knight-II, or rather, it seemed like a long delay but was not even five seconds. Target detonation. Knight-I and V couldn’t avoid being caught in the heart of the nuclear blast. However, Knight-II quickly changed course and fled. Almost as though it were alive.
“B-3,” came the call from the control plane. “Send K-II to the target indicated. What’s wrong, B-3? You want the Knight to get lost?”
Rei came to himself again. He released his finger from the trigger. The stores control panel read RDY FK II.
Knight-I and V had disappeared. Flipping the dogfight switch to OFF, he guided Knight-II to its next target.
“Come back alive,” Rei murmured. At
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