The Princess Takes Charge

The Federation fleet finally arrives, exiting warp jump a good distance away from Hakona. Just as planned, the fleet was divided into two, between General Amberglade forces, and Admiral Helmira. Amberglade's force would head toward the poorly defended Hakona, while Helmira's ships remained where they were.

As Amberglade's ships move cautiously towards the battlefield, Alisha is once again meeting with Amberglade in the bridge of his capital cruiser to discuss their plan of attack. The two would discuss this with a hologram table that shows the positions of both forces.

"...And that is how we will attack them" Amberglade explained to Alisha.

"This won't be easy. Akadian cruisers are known to be more resilient and stronger than ours. Our losses might be high"

"That's why you'll play a key role in ending this quickly. If all goes well, we'll decimate the Imperial forces before any reinforcements of theirs show up"

"I understand. I'll be heading to the hangar to prepare my squad for the attack," Alisha replied, saluting Amberglade.

Once the discussion was over, Alisha left the bridge and head towards the hangar. Aside from the anticipation and adrenaline of the coming battle, she also felt a bit of cautiousness. Despite their careful approach, something still doesn't appear right about this battle. Hopefully, it was all just her being paranoid, and that the enemy in front of her is nothing more than a small force that will be eradicated quickly.

After arriving at the hangar, she would see her squad mates, a combination of Federation and Proto soldiers, along with Friday, all assembled and talking with each other. But, once they see Alisha, everyone except Friday stands at attention.

"Commander on deck!"

The sergeant warned, before they stop their chatter and looked at Alisha.

"At ease everyone"

After given the command, they relaxed and began to listen to Alisha's orders.

"Listen up. You've all been briefed on the plan, but still, the enemy we're facing this time might seem different. They're fewer than us, and we can expect reinforcements coming to their aid if this battle drags on for too long"

"Hah, nothing we can't handle" One of the Federation soldiers replied enthusiastically.

"That's exactly the problem. Expect traps or any sort of strategy. Focus on your task, but watch each other's backs. Understood?"

"Yes, sir!" They all answered.

"Then let's prepare ourselves. The show's about to start."

The soldiers dispersed, each getting into their own fighters and ships, preparing for the battle ahead. However, some wouldn't even fly out there from their ships. Proto soldiers, especially, equip their backs with metallic wings and a jet engine. Even with this, their strength would be equal to a fighter ship.

Like the Proto, Alisha was also not using one of the fighters and instead chooses to fly out herself. Instead of attaching metallic wings to her back, A pair of angelic wings appear behind her back, flopping out majestically. Its beauty made some of the crew and soldiers stopped temporarily to admire the beauty.

Not only that, but a mechanical mask also appears in front of her, covering her entire face. Since she is a human, she does need something to help her breath in space, after all, and the mask itself should suffice.

Finally, metallic blue coloured armor would appear around her body. Covering every skin and clothes she has and turning her into a metallic armored like knight.

After the transformation was finished, Friday walked up to Alisha.

"Be careful, Alisha" she said in her usual monotone voice.

The armored Alisha only gave Friday a nod. Before she could reply, an announcement was made throughout the entire hangar.

"All hands, we are entering the battle space. Get to your stations and prepare for combat!"

With that, everyone went back to work. Alisha was the first to fly off the hangar, and towards the front of the cruiser.

Not long after that, thousands of fighters, as well as Proto soldiers flew off the hangar and form up behind her.

In front of them in the distance, they would see thousands of Akadian fighters, forming up and preparing for their attack. As well as some frigate class ships and their gigantic and more superior, yet outnumbered cruisers. And not too below all of that, was the planet that the Akadians are defending, Hakona.

The sight of the cruisers itself was enough to make some of the men nervous. However, it would all fade away after Alisha raised her relic sword, Blazefury.

"Everyone, the people of this planet are counting on us. We must defeat the Akadians here and free them from this oppression"

Blazefury was then engulfed in a bright flame, as Alisha points it at the enemy.

"Follow me!"

She screamed before charging full speed and headfirst towards the enemy. The others then followed her as they charge head on.

The Akadian fighters was also doing the same thing, making the two sides going full speed towards one another. Even before they collided, they were also bombarded by fierce gun fire from each other.

Despite being hit by some of them, Alisha wasn't bothered by it. Her armor was strong enough to deter small arms fire, protecting her from most things that could kill her.

When they finally collided, Alisha raises her sword to begin her first strike. A huge flame rises from Blazefury, stretching out a couple of meters throughout the battlefield. As she finally swings the sword, the flame that was created would soon follow along, wiping out the fighters in front of her like a wave of ocean.

That singular strike was magnificent and enough to ease the fighters behind her for the rest of the fight.

"Milady, come in"

Amberglade's voice comes through her communication device. Alisha stopped fighting for a moment to listen to him.

"The cruiser on the far back is their capital ship. If you can strike a devastating blow to him, their forces on the space will be disorganized"

"Understood. We'll see what we can do"

Alisha then contacted her squad.

"Squad, form up on me. We're going after their commander!"

After receiving the orders, it didn't take long for her squadrons to gather around her.

Once again, she leads the charge through the enemy formations. All is going well until they were near the Akadian capital ship.

The ship's anti fighter guns immediately opened fire at Alisha's approaching squadron, forcing them to break formation and spread out in order to avoid the intense bombardment.

"Arrgh, their firepower is too much" One of her pilots complained.

"Squad, that's enough. Just keep their guns distracted. This won't take long"

Alisha quickly flew towards the outside of the ship's bridge in full speed. Along the way, she would recite prayers for a powerful strike to quickly decimate everyone inside the bridge.

"Oh goddess Norion. Grant me, your humble servant, the power to strike down your foes…"

She murmurs her prayers as she continued her flight.

Once she reached the bridge, she could see the panicked crew, as well as the general that's leading them from within.

Despite their best efforts to shut the window with external armor plating, it wasn't fast enough, as Alisha had finally finished her prayers and began her powerful strike.

"… May your flame burn bright and true. Inferno Lance!"

Alisha pulls her sword back towards her, before thrusting it towards the bridge. A bright flame would engulf the room like a strong laser, as it pierces not only through the bridge, but also several rooms behind it.

Once the light and debris has been cleared, she could see the floating bodies of the dead crew flying out of the destroyed room. Among them was their general.

After confirming the kill, Alisha contacts general Amberglade of her success.

"Sir, target neutralized. The enemy capital ship is also rendered inoperable"

"Excellent work, milady. Now pull your squadron out of there so we can begin phase two"

With that, Alisha and her squadron successfully eliminated the Akadian general and left the capital ship to return to the main fighting behind them. The ship's anti fighter guns, despite trying their best to shoot their fleeing enemies, wasn't able to shoot down a single one of them.

The Federation had struck a deadly blow to the Akadians and it seems that the outcome of this battle has finally been determined.

Or is it?

***

Somewhere on the ground, within the capital city. Priad was leaning against the wall of a building while watching the entire battle that is unfolding on the atmosphere. As he expected, a call from Liliana went through to him through a private channel.

"You were right. That Fallen Princess managed to take out General Arundor… And easily too" She said with disbelief at what she had just saw up there.

"Bet you were glad that I warned you to not be on that cruiser. What about the transfer?"

"Your precious girlfriend is already in my care. Just like I promised"

"Good. Proceed with the plan and hold them off there"

Liliana clicked her tongue "You're not my superior, Trooper. Don't try to act like it"

"Yet I'm the one with all the plans here. Unless you got another plan in mind, Lily"

 "Don't even try and get chummy with me"

Priad chuckles a bit at her reaction, before returning to his serious state "They'll be jamming your communications up there, so we won't be in contact with each other. Stay safe, lieutenant"

Priad ended the call and walked away. Despite the grim situation that they are facing, it didn't matter much to him. Because everything is going as he expected. The real battle is about to begin.