The Teyvat Orbital Elevator
Six days had passed.
And yet, the mood aboard the Ousia-class carrier Blancheur remained heavy.
The main deck sat in somber silence, the usual hum of activity replaced by an unsettling stillness.
No fighter engines warming up.
No crews running pre-flight checks.
The sun began its slow descent toward the horizon, casting long shadows across the flight deck. But the Blancheur would not stay silent for long.
Soon, it would see action again.
The next mission was already being planned—Operation Sovereign Shield—an offensive designed to rescue Former President Imena, who had gone missing when the Teyvat Orbital Elevator was seized by the Snezhnayan Federation.
Furina stood by the viewing deck, leaning against the cold steel railings.
The wind whipped against her face, her hair flowing freely in the evening air.
Her eyes were distant, locked onto the endless stretch of ocean ahead, but her mind was elsewhere.
Since Operation Liberty, something inside her had changed.
Her mind flashed back to the past few days.
Two Days After Operation Liberty – The Recovery
After the operation, allied forces launched a recovery mission to retrieve the wreckage of the fallen fighters.
The first confirmed loss was Nocturne Two—Calcagni's F/A-18.
They found it washed ashore on the Morozvyat Plateau, half-buried in the cold sand.
The tail was still intact.
The Nocturne Squadron insignia was still visible, with a bold "02" marked on the aft section.
But the cockpit…
It was mangled beyond recognition.
Calcagni was still strapped in her seat, her body frozen in its final moments.
Furina exhaled sharply at the memory, gripping the railing tighter.
She didn't deserve that…
Then came the Ianus Squadron.
Their F-16s had been completely obliterated, their remains scattered for miles.
There were no bodies to recover.
The Sepharis Bird's energy shield had disintegrated them all.
They never even had a chance.
Three Days Later – The Funeral at the Fontaine Hero's Cemetery
After the wreckage was recovered, both Nocturne and Tidal Squadrons were ordered to return to Charybdis Air Force Base.
For one day.
One day to bury their comrades.
Eight pilots.
Eight empty caskets.
Eight lives sacrificed for their nation.
Furina remembered flying in formation, her breath steady, but her hands trembling at the controls.
The Nocturne Squadron had been given the honor of performing the missing man formation—a salute to their fallen.
And Furina had been chosen to pull off the maneuver.
She could still hear Lynette's countdown over the comms as they approached the cemetery, flying low at 350 knots in a tight V formation.
Furina was positioned on Lynette's right wing, the only Rafale in a formation of F/A-18s.
But it didn't matter.
At that moment, they were not squadrons.
They were not rivals.
They were not pilots of different nations.
They were brothers and sisters in arms.
And when the countdown hit zero, Furina slammed her throttles to full, igniting her afterburners.
The Rafale shot upward, climbing at a 68-degree angle, before banking 90 degrees left, splitting away from the formation.
A symbolic farewell.
A reminder that their fallen would never return.
Furina shook her head, snapping herself back to reality.
The weight of war had fully sunk in now.
And she had accepted it.
This is how it always is.
Someone you know will die.
But not in vain.
Never in vain.
She let out a slow breath, brushing a hand through her hair.
"Accept it, Furina… this is war. And it won't end until someone ends it."
She closed her eyes briefly.
It won't end until we end it.
The Nocturne Squadron had already begun to rebuild.
The 405th had officially reassigned the role of Nocturne Two to Lyney and Lynette's younger brother—Freminet.
Another pilot in the seat.
Another name on the roster.
But not a replacement.
Never a replacement.
As Furina bowed her head, lost in thought, she heard quiet footsteps approaching.
Then—a soft voice.
"Hey…"
Furina didn't need to look.
She already knew who it was.
She sighed. "Hey…" she replied, her voice softer than usual.
Lynette leaned against the railing beside her, gazing out at the darkening horizon.
After a moment, she spoke.
"Is it reeling in?"
Furina's grip tightened around the railing.
She nodded. "Yes."
Lynette could hear it in her voice.
It wasn't just grief.
It was anger.
Deep, unrelenting rage.
Furina shook her head. "Fuck… If I had changed my course and gone to support Calcagni, she'd still be here."
Her voice broke slightly.
Lynette gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Don't think like that, Furina."
Furina clenched her teeth. "How can I not?"
Lynette sighed. "We were surrounded. The drones had us locked down. If you had left, you wouldn't have saved her—you would've just gotten yourself killed too. You had no other choice."
Furina lowered her head, pressing her right hand against the bridge of her nose.
"Yeah. Yeah, right…"
Lynette took a small step closer, her voice softer this time.
"Listen to me… You still have us."
Furina looked at her.
"Me. Lyney. Freminet. The rest of Nocturne Squadron. We're still here."
Furina inhaled sharply, nodding. "Right…"
Lynette gave her a small, reassuring squeeze on the shoulder.
Then—she stepped back.
"Come on. Briefing's about to start. They're waiting on us."
Furina took one last glance at the ocean.
The sun had nearly disappeared below the horizon, the sky fading into deep blues and purples.
She exhaled one final time.
Then—she turned away.
Without hesitation.
Without looking back.
The war wasn't over yet.
And she would fight until it was.
Moments later, Furina and Lynette arrived at the briefing room.
The room was dimly lit, the only illumination coming from the massive tactical display screen at the front.
Admiral Augereau stood at the center, his arms crossed, waiting for them.
The air was thick with tension.
This wasn't just another sortie.
This was the mission.
The one that could change everything.
With everyone present, the Admiral didn't waste any time.
The display screen flickered to life, showcasing a detailed 3D map of the Teyvat Orbital Elevator and its surrounding areas.
"Alright. Now that everyone's here, let's begin."
The Briefing – A Mission Against the Impossible
The map zoomed in, outlining the massive structure of the Orbital Elevator.
The once-proud symbol of international unity was now a fortress under Snezhnayan control.
The Admiral's voice was steady, but heavy.
"This is the big one. As proven in our previous operation, the Sepharis Birds have reinforced the enemy's anti-air network, making direct assaults nearly impossible. However, despite this setback, we still need to reach the Orbital Elevator—no matter the cost."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the room.
"Former President Imena is still there. And she's waiting for us."
The display flashed again, marking a red circle around the Elevator.
"Imena was inspecting the Elevator when the war broke out. Since then, she was classified as missing. However—"
The screen changed, displaying a transmission log.
"New intel suggests she is still alive. A military officer from her security detail claims she was hidden inside the elevator before Snezhnayan forces took over."
A murmur rippled through the room.
For the first time in weeks, there was hope.
"This may be our best and only chance to get her out."
The display then switched to a different view, revealing a network of overlapping circles.
Radar zones.
Each one representing enemy detection range.
"Since securing the Orbital Elevator, Snezhnaya has deployed an extensive radar and anti-air system around the region. If we enter these zones, their defense squadrons will scramble instantly."
The map zoomed out further, revealing two massive broken-line circles.
The room fell silent.
They knew what those were.
The Admiral exhaled sharply.
"The Sepharis Birds.
Celestia and Karatel."
The room stiffened.
They had already fought one in Operation Liberty.
Barely survived.
Now, there were two.
The map zoomed back in, now displaying the coastline of northern Liyue.
"However, our reconnaissance teams have discovered a weakness. The northern coastline of Liyue—right between Fontaine and Liyue—has the weakest radar coverage. If we stay below the cloud cover, we can slip through undetected."
The display updated again, showing weather patterns over the area.
Scattered clouds. Rain.
A perfect natural cover.
"Flying through the clouds will mask our radar signatures, allowing us to get close without triggering alarms."
Then, Nocturne Three raised his hand.
"Who's leading the infiltration, sir?"
The Admiral's expression didn't waver.
He turned to Furina.
"That will be Waltz."
Every pair of eyes in the room snapped to her.
The display updated again, revealing her personal insignia on the right side of the screen.
A dark blue circular emblem with a golden outline.
At the center—a golden silhouette of her Dassault Rafale M, pointing skyward.
Its contrail swooped into a flowing arc, seamlessly blending into her signature crown insignia.
She stared at it for a moment.
This was it.
The Admiral continued.
"Waltz, your mission is to break through enemy airspace and secure a landing zone. Your priority targets are the anti-air systems and radar installations surrounding the Orbital Elevator.
Once you clear the enemy defenses, Nocturne Squadron and Cascade Squadron will follow in for extraction.
Your second objective: Once the former president is secured, you will provide escort for the transport back to the carrier.
The Admiral's gaze locked onto hers.
"You're the tip of the spear, Lieutenant. You get in first. You pave the way. And when it's done, you bring them home."
Furina nodded firmly.
No hesitation.
No doubt.
Just determination.
The Admiral gave one final nod.
"That's all. Everyone, dismissed. Tidal Two, sortie immediately. Nocturne Squadron, stand by in your aircraft for further orders."
With that, the briefing ended.
The next battle had begun.
And Furina was going in alone.
All the fighters rose from their seats, moving in unison toward the main deck.
When they arrived, it was controlled chaos.
Deck crew members sprinted across the carrier, preparing all launchpads and catapults.
Steam hissed from the catapults.
Fuel crews hurried to top off the jets.
Ordnance teams did final weapons checks.
The entire carrier was alive with motion.
Catapult One was already ready.
Furina turned her eyes toward the front of the Blancheur.
Her Rafale M sat there, parked right by the island.
Waiting for her.
She arrived at her jet and climbed up the ladder, settling into her ejection seat.
Her movements were automatic—tightening her harness, pulling on the adjustment tabs, securing herself for battle.
The aircraft was already powered on, APU humming quietly, and the waypoint coordinates had been preloaded.
Waypoint One: Home – The Carrier.
Waypoint Two: The Entry to Enemy Territory.
Waypoint Three: The Orbital Elevator.
Furina reached for her helmet.
For a moment, she paused.
She turned it over in her hands, staring at it.
This is it.
Then, footsteps on the ladder.
Lyney.
He climbed up and stopped at the edge of the canopy.
"Furina?" he asked.
She glanced at him. "Lyney?"
He reached forward, patting her shoulder.
"Good luck out there."
Furina nodded, her grip tightening around her helmet. "Yes, sir."
Lyney smiled.
"Remember—don't think. Just do. Forget what happened in the past. Let's get the President home… Ace."
A spark ignited in Furina's chest.
She smirked. "Yes, sir."
Lyney chuckled, ruffling her hair. "Good luck, Waltz."
Then, he climbed back down the ladder.
Furina exhaled and secured her helmet and mask, locking them into place.
She reached for the canopy switch and closed it.
The cockpit sealed shut.
She was alone now.
Just her and the machine.
Furina flipped the main electrical switch from STBY to RIGHT.
The right M88 engine began to spool up, the familiar howl filling her ears as N2 climbed.
At 25% N2, Furina reached for the engine management lever and pushed it to idle.
The engine came to life, stabilizing with a deep, steady hum.
She repeated the process for the left M88 engine.
With both engines running smoothly, she switched the system to NORM.
Then, she clicked her radio.
"Tidal Two is ready to go."
The tower responded instantly.
"Tidal Two, taxi to Catapult One."
Furina took a deep breath.
Then she exhaled slowly.
"Let's go."
She disengaged the parking brake and taxied forward, rolling toward Catapult One.
The Shooter crewman guided her forward, ensuring her nose gear was perfectly aligned.
A sharp hand signal.
Stop.
She did.
Then, another hand signal—lower the launch bar.
Furina reached forward and flipped the switch.
A soft whirr as the launch bar engaged, locking into position.
The deck crew immediately got to work, securing the Rafale to the catapult system.
As she waited, Furina glanced to her right.
The entire Nocturne Squadron.
Tidal One.
All of them.
They were watching her.
Cheering for her.
This was it.
She was the spearhead of the mission.
A lone fighter pilot flying into enemy airspace.
Then, the signal for flight control checks.
She didn't hesitate.
Furina moved the sidestick in rapid succession—up, down, left, right—in a circular motion.
At the same time, she worked the rudder pedals, her feet pressing them in perfect unison.
Outside the cockpit—
The elevons.
The canards.
The rudders.
They all moved at once.
Instantly.
There was no delay.
No lag.
It was direct input.
Outside, Lyney's eyes narrowed.
He wasn't just watching.
He was analyzing.
Something was off about Furina's Rafale.
Something different.
He watched the way her right arm moved.
Then he watched the elevons.
The front canards.
They moved in perfect synchronization with her exact hand movements.
No delay. No buffering. Just… immediate reaction.
Lyney's mind raced.
"Could the fly-by-wire system in Furina's Rafale have little to no delay?"
"If she snaps the sidestick up instantly… does it move instantly?"
"Is that her secret? The reason why she can pull off those insane maneuvers?"
The realization sent a chill down his spine.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
The Final Moments Before Takeoff
Furina glanced to her left.
The deck crew chief gave her a thumbs-up.
It was time.
She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.
The roar of the carrier's deck faded.
Her heartbeat slowed.
Then—
A whisper.
"Don't think… just do."
She exhaled slowly.
Her eyes snapped open.
Determination.
She turned toward the Shooter.
A sharp salute.
Then—she braced herself against the seat.
The Shooter returned the salute.
He dropped into position.
Furina slammed the throttles forward.
The M88 engines roared, afterburners igniting in twin blue flames.
The catapult system engaged.
A split second of silence—
Then—
The launch.
The Rafale shot forward.
Furina felt the violent acceleration press her into the seat.
The deck disappeared beneath her.
Then—she was airborne.
She climbed fast and hard, the afterburners blazing against the evening sky.
Below, the Nocturne Squadron and Tidal One watched as her Rafale ascended, the landing gear retracting.
Lynette smiled softly.
"May the wind guide you safely, Waltz."
The mission had begun.
Furina was on her own.
It took twenty minutes before Furina reached enemy territory.
The landscape below was darkened, the sky stretching endlessly in every direction.
She switched her radar to IFF mode.
The screen lit up.
Red circles.
Each one marking an enemy radar site.
A reminder that one wrong move would end the mission before it even began.
Then, AWACS Zaytun chimed in.
"You're entering enemy territory. Impose radio silence until you've cleared the enemy zone. Remember—if you get caught, abort the mission."
Furina gave a short nod, even though no one could see her.
"Wilco."
AWACS paused for a moment, then made the final call.
"Commence the mission."
Furina slammed the throttles forward.
Her Rafale M surged ahead, hugging the terrain.
Low. Fast. Silent.
She weaved between hills, dodging the enemy radar zones.
Then—she spotted an opening to her left.
Her eyes narrowed.
A way through.
She turned ninety degrees right, banking hard to follow the terrain.
Beneath her, an international airport flashed by in seconds—a blur of lights and runways.
Then—another sharp ninety-degree turn.
Perfect execution.
Then, AWACS Zaytun crackled through.
"You're a third of the way, Waltz."
Furina didn't respond.
Radio silence.
She pressed on.
Suddenly, the enemy frequency crackled to life.
"Any enemies in the sky?" A Snezhnayan commander asked.
Another voice responded.
"All clear, sir." A radar operator confirmed.
Furina kept her breathing steady.
Then, the commander gave an unexpected order.
"Alright. Shut down half of the radars. Keep the other half running."
Furina's eyes flicked to her radar.
Half the red circles vanished.
The enemy had just cleared her a path without even realizing it.
AWACS Zaytun, barely able to contain himself, spoke up.
"It's a good day! You can go straight to the Elevator, Waltz!"
Furina smirked.
She **banked right—**a sharp, high-G turn straight toward the target.
The Orbital Elevator loomed ahead, silhouetted against the darkening sky.
The mission was on track.
AWACS called it in.
"We're in the clear. Radio silence lifted. The helicopter will arrive shortly. Destroy the anti-air defenses."
Furina's grip on the sidestick tightened.
"Roger."
She yanked back on the stick, pulling the Rafale into a steep 60-degree climb.
At 5,000 feet, she rolled inverted—
Then dived straight down.
Her HUD locked onto six enemy anti-aircraft systems.
A quick sequence—target locked.
She squeezed the trigger.
Two LACMS launched.
She gave them a twenty-second interval between each.
"Fox Three!"
Then—she pulled back up, breaking away from the dive.
Below, the missiles struck their targets.
Explosions rippled across the enemy's defensive line.
AWACS called it in.
"Half of the enemy defenses are out! Keep it up!"
Furina climbed, then rolled over again.
Now—onto the other half.
Another dive.
Another lock.
She squeezed the trigger again.
"Fox Three!"
A moment later—another massive explosion.
AWACS crackled through again.
"All defenses are destroyed! Good work!"
Then, Nocturne Squadron's radio cut in.
Lynette's voice came first.
"The anti-air weapons aren't showing on the radar. What happened?"
AWACS responded, amused.
"Waltz took them out before you fellas even showed up."
Silence.
Then—
Freminet, Nocturne Two, spoke up.
"She took them out already!? That's impossible!"
Then Lyney's voice crackled in, laughing.
"That right there is Élégante. Et Efficace."
Lynette chuckled.
"Literally the title written beneath her canopy."
Furina grinned.
Mission success.
Then—
AWACS interrupted.
"Looks like the enemies have figured it out. They're prepping to launch drones in the city we flew over earlier. Take out the containers and any drones that escape!"
Furina's smirk vanished.
Time to move.
She slammed the throttles forward.
"Wilco. Heading that way!"
Lynette jumped in.
"Tidal One, Nocturne Two—follow Waltz's lead! Take out any drone containers and drones!"
"Tidal One, Wilco."
"Nocturne Two, Roger."
Lyney's F-35 and Nocturne One and Two's F/A-18s peeled away, turning toward the city.
Meanwhile, Nocturne Three, Four, and Five broke off, staying behind to provide air support for the landing helicopter.
Their IFF systems updated.
New targets.
Red markers.
Drones.
Containers.
Furina pushed forward at near Mach 1.
She blew past Nocturne Two, Nocturne One, and Tidal One in a blur.
Then—
A sharp, steep climb.
She climbed high—higher than necessary.
Then rolled inverted.
Diving attack.
Then—the container tops opened.
Drones launched.
AWACS Zaytun yelled into the radio.
"Eight bogeys! MQ-99 drones!"
Furina made the daring call without hesitation.
"Tidal One, Nocturne One, Nocturne Two—defend me! Take out the drones! I'll handle the containers!"
Their responses came instantaneously.
"Nocturne One, Roger!"
"Nocturne Two, Wilco!"
"Tidal One, Wilco! Let's turn and burn!"
The three fighters peeled off, engaging the swarm of hostile MQ-99 drones.
Furina, alone, lined up the first container.
Her HUD locked onto the target.
She squeezed the trigger.
An AGM missile streaked forward.
Direct hit.
AWACS confirmed the kill.
"Container destroyed! Three to go!"
Furina didn't wait to celebrate.
She banked hard right, climbing sharply to reposition. Her trajectory followed the shoreline.
Then—
"Tidal One, Splash One!"
"Nocturne Two, Splash One!"
The comms crackled as two more drones went down.
That left six still in the air.
Then—disaster.
Disaster Strikes at the Elevator
The radio erupted with panic.
"We're under attack! We need close air support!"
"Get behind the chopper! Take cover!"
The rescue team, Hilichurl One, was taking heavy fire.
Snezhnayan ground forces had engaged them.
Furina's teeth clenched.
"Just a little more!"
Her Rafale cut through the sky like a bullet.
She locked onto the second container.
Another AGM missile.
Another explosion.
"Two down! One to go!"
Her eyes sharpened, locked onto the last container.
She dove aggressively, accelerating as she lined up the final target.
The container doors had just begun to open.
Furina fired.
The AGM missile connected instantly.
A fireball erupted below.
She yanked the stick back, pulling into a steep climb, flying straight through the rising smoke.
"All containers down!" AWACS called out.
"Now take the drones out!"
Furina throttled down and yanked the Rafale into a brutal 90-degree right turn.
Her body slammed into the seat, her vision momentarily darkening under the G-forces.
She rocketed back toward the fight.
Her HUD flickered with new locks.
Two drones.
One chasing Nocturne One.
One hounding Tidal One.
Furina's thumb flicked the weapon selector.
LRAAMs.
Her Rafale stabilized.
Tone.
Lock.
Fire.
"Fox Three!"
The missiles streaked away.
Impact.
Both drones exploded.
As Furina shot past the wreckage, she rocketed between Lyney and Lynette's planes.
The pair **instinctively broke formation—**Lyney banking left, Lynette banking right.
"Waltz!?" Lyney exclaimed.
Furina grinned.
"Considérez-vous chanceux, ma chère."
Lynette laughed.
"Thanks for the help!"
AWACS Zaytun called it in.
"That's the last of the drones!"
For a moment—victory seemed near.
Disaster – The Loss of Hilichurl One
Then—
The radio erupted in chaos.
"INCOMING ROCKET! TAKE COV—"
An explosion.
Then—static.
Silence.
AWACS tried frantically to make contact.
"Hilichurl One! Respond!"
Nothing.
Then—a voice came through.
A new one.
Rough. Steady.
"Anyone there? This is Colonel Volonté. The rescue unit is down, along with the soldier holding this radio."
Furina gripped her controls tighter.
"I will get Ms. Imena out of here."
AWACS immediately recognized the name.
"Colonel Volonté? Is there an aircraft nearby? Can you fly it out?"
A brief pause.
Then—Volonté's voice came back.
"There's a V-22 Osprey here. I flew these when I was stationed in Sumeru. We're taking it."
AWACS exhaled in relief.
"Roger. You're now callsign Meka One."
The Extraction – Escort Meka One
Volonté and Ms. Imena climbed aboard the V-22.
The engines spun up.
The Osprey lifted off vertically, then tilted forward, transitioning into forward flight.
AWACS updated the mission.
"All squadrons—escort Meka One!"
One by one, they responded.
"Nocturne One, Wilco!"
"Tidal Two, Wilco!"
"Tidal One, Roger!"
"Nocturne Two, Roger!"
"Nocturne Three, Affirmative!"
"Nocturne Four, Roger!"
"Nocturne Five, Let's go!"
Furina, Lyney, and Lynette banked back toward the Orbital Elevator.
Their formation tightened.
Below, Meka One cut through the sky, carrying the former president and the colonel toward safety.
AWACS updated them again.
"They're heading south toward the carrier. Provide air support!"
Furina's eyes narrowed.
"Understood."
The mission wasn't over yet.
The situation deteriorated fast.
"Zaytun! I got multiple bogeys inbound! Bearing Two-Six-Zero!"
Then—their worst nightmare.
AWACS Zaytun's tone shifted.
"Sighting confirmed! MQ-101s. The forefront of the Sepharis Bird!"
Furina growled in frustration.
"Are you fucking kidding me!? That big-ass bird is heading our way!?"
Zaytun sighed heavily.
"Affirmative, Waltz."
Then, his voice hardened.
"But still. Defend Meka One at all costs!"
The Battle Begins – Meka One's Desperate Escape
The entire squadron tightened formation, converging around Meka One.
Their **HUDs lit up red—**a storm of drones descended upon them.
Furina's eyes tracked movement ahead.
A drone streaked past her nose.
She banked hard, flipping her Rafale in a brutal turn to chase it down.
Then—
"Meka One! Evasive maneuvers! Drone behind you!" AWACS Zaytun shouted.
Volonté grunted through the radio.
"I know! But this isn't a damn fighter!"
Furina lined up the drone in her sights.
She fired.
The **Sidewinder screamed off its rail—**and missed.
She cursed.
"For fuck's sake! Come on!"
She fired again.
Direct hit.
AWACS Zaytun called it in.
"Tidal Two, Splash One!"
Fighting for Survival – The Kill Count Rises
Time blurred.
The entire squadron fought viciously against the onslaught of MQ-101s.
The kill count kept rising.
Furina—13 confirmed kills.
Lynette—8 kills.
Lyney—5 kills.
Freminet—4 kills.
The rest—3 each.
They were holding their ground.
Then, a glimmer of hope.
AWACS Zaytun broke the tension.
"The Cascade Squadron has arrived! They'll be here in Two mikes!"
Then—more good news.
Volonté radioed in.
"This is Meka One! We're about to exit enemy airspace! Keep those fingers crossed!"
Furina grinned through clenched teeth.
"Keep that power maxed out! We're almost home!"
She took down two more drones.
AWACS confirmed it.
"Waltz, Splash Two! Good work!"
Then—right on cue.
"This is Cascade One. The cavalry is here!"
Four F-14Bs thundered into the battle.
Each launched two LRAAMs.
Eight direct hits.
The skies erupted in fireballs.
But—two dozen drones still remained.
The fight was far from over.
Furina's Deadly Precision – The Impossible Maneuver
Furina fought like a demon.
Her movements defied logic, her instincts sharper than the rest.
While the Nocturne Squadron and Tidal One fought head-on, she attacked from every angle.
A drone lined up behind her.
AWACS screamed.
"WALTZ! MISSILE INBOUND! EVADE!"
Furina smirked.
"Try me, asshole."
She slammed the throttles to idle.
Her hand snapped back on the stick.
The Rafale pitched violently.
90 degrees.
120 degrees.
180 degrees— flying backwards.
The missile whizzed past.
Furina's **HUD flickered—**lock-on.
She fired.
"Fox Two!"
The Sidewinder roared off the rail.
The drone exploded mid-air.
As her Rafale completed its 360-degree Pugachev Maneuver, she broke hard right, leveling out.
AWACS Zaytun called it in.
"Tidal Two, Splash One! Keep it up!"
The radio crackled with disbelief.
"Did—did a Rafale just pull off a 360-degree Pugachev!?"****—Cascade One.
"Who the hell is that!?"—Cascade Two.
Lyney laughed.
"Crazy good. She's Waltz. Tidal Two."
Cascade One sounded completely floored.
"She!? She's a girl!?"
Furina grinned.
"Bonjour, mon chéri~"
Then—disaster.
A drone's missile screamed toward the V-22 Osprey.
A blinding explosion.
Right beside the cockpit.
The radio erupted in static.
Then—Volonté's voice.
Weak. Pained.
"I... I'm hit. Please... save Ms. Imena..."
Then—silence.
AWACS tried desperately to make contact.
"Colonel Volonté!? Colonel Volonté!?"
Nothing.
Furina's hands gripped the stick so tightly her knuckles went white.
Her heart pounded in her chest.
She gritted her teeth.
"Not. Like. This."
She slammed the throttles to full power.
"Everyone—defensive formation around Meka One! We are NOT losing them!"
Then. The radio crackled. A shaky voice came through.
"Hello? Anyone?"
AWACS Zaytun snapped to attention.
"Ms. Imena! Keep flying the same direction! You're almost out of enemy territory!"
A deep sigh. Then—a quiet, broken apology.
"I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
Then—the unthinkable.
The V-22 Osprey suddenly banked hard, performing a sharp 180-degree turn.
AWACS barked, his voice rising.
"What are you doing, Madam President!? Turn around 180 NOW! This is a danger zone!"
Freminet's voice trembled over the radio.
"She's heading back to the Orbital Elevator!"
The sky erupted in chaos.
The squadron kept fighting, fending off the drones, but now—every last MQ-101 locked onto the Osprey.
Then—the enemy radio crackled.
"Sepharis Bird Celestia, passing Waypoint Two."
AWACS Zaytun's urgency spiked.
"Drones are right behind the Osprey! Take them out!"
Lyney shouted.
"Go get them, Waltz!"
Furina narrowed her eyes, locking onto the closest two drones.
She fired.
"Fox Three!"
The missiles streaked toward their targets—
Then. The Inevitable.
A flash. A fireball.
The Osprey exploded.
The right wing detached, shearing away from the fuselage.
The burning wreckage spiraled downward.
A splash.
Silence.
Nobody survived.
The radio erupted.
"WHAT THE HELL!?" Cascade Two screamed.
"That's a friendly! Who fired that missile!?"
Cascade One immediately turned on Furina.
"Tidal Two fired that!"
Furina's blood turned ice cold.
"I didn't fire that!" she shot back, her voice sharp.
"I was locked onto a drone behind the aircraft!"
The drones suddenly peeled away, retreating toward the Sepharis Bird Celestia.
AWACS Zaytun's voice cut through the static.
"Tidal One. Did Waltz fire the missile?"
A heavy silence.
Lyney hesitated.
"I... I saw an explosion by the rear. But Waltz was the closest."
Lynette's voice came in fast, firm.
"The Osprey was crawling with drones! It was a game of hit or miss! It wasn't intentional!"
Then—Furina's radar blared.
Her eyes snapped to the massive radar signature now lighting up her HUD.
She gasped.
Then. Nocturne five calls in.
"EVERYONE! THE BIG BIRD IS HERE!"
AWACS didn't hesitate.
"Everyone withdraw immediately! "
The Cascade Squadron broke off, banking east toward their base.
Nocturne Squadron and Tidal Squadron turned south, racing toward the carrier.
But—the Sepharis Bird Celestia was inbound from the north.
They had to escape fast.
The formation tightened.
The squadron instinctively formed an element around Furina.
Like they were protecting her.
Like they were shielding her from what had just happened.
Then—AWACS Zaytun spoke again.
His tone was softer now.
"Waltz... I'm sorry. But as per protocol... you might not be flying for a while. I hope you understand."
Furina didn't respond.
Her hands trembled against the sidestick.
Her breath came in short, shallow bursts.
Her mind raced.
Was it really her?
Had she... killed the Former President?
Hours Later…
The carrier's main deck was alive with motion.
Deck crews hurried to assist the returning aircraft, guiding them into position, refueling, reloading— but one pilot remained motionless.
Furina.
She sat frozen in her Rafale, her helmet resting in her lap. Her hands trembled. Her entire body shook.
She couldn't move.
Couldn't think.
The echo of the explosion replayed over and over in her mind.
The wreckage.
The fireball.
The splash.
It might be over.
Her flying career.
Her freedom.
Maybe even… her life.
The sounds of the deck blurred, fading into a hollow hum.
Everything was distant.
"Waltz?"
A voice.
She didn't react.
"Waltz?"
Then—louder.
"FURINA!"
She gasped.
Her eyes snapped up.
Lyney and Lynette stood beside her Rafale, their faces filled with concern.
Furina blinked rapidly, her breath uneven.
Lyney sighed.
Lynette reached up, gripping the ladder.
"Come on. Get down."
Furina nodded slowly, barely responding as she climbed out of the cockpit. Her body was stiff—almost mechanical.
She should have felt relief being back on solid ground.
But she didn't.
She felt sick.
Lynette and Lyney stayed close, supporting her as they led her to the briefing room.
Minutes Later – The Briefing Room
The room was packed.
Pilots. Officers. A video call with Cascade Squadron.
Everyone was watching.
The debrief began. The mission timeline played on the screen.
Admiral Augereau stood before them, his voice heavy.
"The Operation to rescue Former President Imena was a failure…"
Silence.
"There is no hope that anyone survived."
Then—he turned to Furina.
Her heart stopped.
"Waltz. You are suspected of assassinating Former President Imena."
A cold wave of dread washed over her.
"There will be an inquiry on this."
"There may also be a court-martial."
The words hit like a missile.
Furina didn't breathe.
Didn't move.
The room felt smaller.
The air thicker.
Then—a sigh.
"Dismissed."
The admiral walked out, his expression unreadable.
The room exploded into murmurs.
Everyone turned toward her.
But not with anger.
Not with hatred.
With support.
Nocturne Three spoke first.
"This isn't your fault. Anyone could have missed the drone. The way those MQ-101s move… even the best of us could have miscalculated."
Nocturne Five nodded.
"Even ace pilots can't hit a perfect missile lock every time. Those things are a nightmare."
Lyney pulled up a chair beside her.
"Furina." His voice was steady. "We'll be there to defend you."
Lynette sat on her other side.
"That's right. You didn't want this to happen. And we know it."
The Viewing Deck – Midnight
The night was calm.
The sea below glistened beneath the moonlight.
But Furina's mind was a storm.
She stood at the edge of the viewing deck, gripping the railings.
Her knuckles were white.
She was a suspect.
A murderer.
Her stomach twisted.
Then—footsteps.
She glanced sideways.
Admiral Augereau.
He sighed, resting his hands on the railing beside her.
"Furina…"
She didn't respond.
"I know you didn't mean to do it."
Still—nothing.
Augereau continued, his tone softer.
"It was 50/50 at that point. It could've been anyone. I'll do what I can to help you… but with the Teyvat United Peacekeeping Force investigating, it's going to be hard."
"If not… impossible."
He **placed a firm hand on her back—**a silent gesture of reassurance—before walking away.
Then…
it broke her.
Her eyes burned.
Her chest tightened.
Her vision blurred as tears spilled down her cheeks.
Her hands trembled against the railing.
A sob ripped from her throat.
Her shoulders shook violently.
She bowed her head, whispering through the anguish.
"Wh-Why… Why me…?"
Her voice cracked.
"I… I'm done for."
She clutched her arms, trembling.
The harsh reality settled deep into her bones.
She was the closest.
She had fired two missiles near the Osprey.
She knew they hit the drone.
But if that was true…
Who fired the mysterious third missile?
Who really killed Ms. Imena?
It was anyone's game now.