Alicorn Bay

Shadows of Alicorn Bay

Six Days After the "Success" of Trying to Capture the Razushitzel

The tension at Iron Gale Air Base was at an all-time high.

Both Primordial Squadron and Waltz Squadron were skeptical of Brigadier General Buzuleac—and for damn good reason.

The Razushitzel had slipped through their fingers.

Now, it roamed the seas near Snezhnaya, with an unhinged captain at the helm.

With that behemoth still in play, the tides of war could shift back in the enemy's favor.

No one in the briefing room was relaxed.

The Ticking Clock

Silence. Thick, suffocating silence.

Furina was still pissed.

Jean looked exhausted.

Everyone else was on edge.

But the Brigadier General?

That smug bastard looked like he didn't give a single shit.

The screen flickered to life. With an air of complete indifference, Buzuleac began.

"Okay… I hope we can set aside our differences. But we have to proceed."

His tone was so casual that Furina's fingers twitched with the urge to grab something and throw it at his head.

"Let's start. The Snezhnayan Navy has spent the past five days gathering their entire fleet at Alicorn Bay—sixty miles west of Bespokoynaya Bay."

"They've even reactivated mothballed ships, desperate to reinforce their naval power before the inevitable battle at Morepesok."

"And our intelligence suggests the Razushitzel will be arriving there soon, linking up with the fleet."

The tension in the room tightened like a noose.

Then—Kaveh joined the meeting via video call.

"Can you provide a source for that intel, Brigadier General?"

"There's a possibility that someone within their ranks is working sabotage."

Buzuleac scoffed, waving a dismissive hand.

"Why don't you shut that damn mouth of yours? You're a weapons expert, not my superior. From now on, you ask for permission to speak."

Furina's eye twitched so violently she nearly saw red.

"The fuck is up with him?" she muttered.

Kaveh exhaled slowly, holding back his own irritation.

"Permission to speak, Brigadier General?"

Buzuleac sighed as if bored.

"No. I'll be speaking to your superiors instead."

Furina's jaw clenched.

"Get a load of this asshole… Tch."

The Mission That Shouldn't Exist

The display switched to a live satellite feed of Alicorn Bay—a massive coastal city swarming with warships, repair docks, and logistical hubs.

Buzuleac continued.

"This is your mission."

"The TSSG is to raid Alicorn Bay. Conduct airstrikes from south to north, east to west. Inflict as much damage as possible."

"If we cripple the bay's naval functions, we can prevent the Razushitzel from linking up with the fleet. More importantly, we cut off its resupply options."

"To delay enemy detection, you'll be flying low-altitude infiltration."

"Multiple rearming supply zones have been established south, east, and west of the target area. If you need to refuel or replenish ammunition, use them."

Then came the kicker.

"Today, I am assigning Waltz Squadron to sortie in a small number."

The room exploded.

Furina shot to her feet so fast her chair nearly toppled over.

"Now, wait a FUCKING second!"

Her voice was pure rage—sharp and lethal.

"You want us—a small number of pilots—to take on a GODDAMN NAVAL FLEET!?"

Her gloved hands slammed against the table, the sound ringing through the room.

"You're sending Waltz Squadron into a SUICIDAL MISSION and expecting us to just take it? Time is of the essence, you bureaucratic bastard! If they activate their defenses, we are FUCKED! This is a do-or-die mission!"

Jean stood up next.

"She has a point! You can't destroy a shit ton of naval power with just five planes!"

Buzuleac scoffed, leaning back in his chair like this was some mild inconvenience.

"My decision is final. Either you do it, or I shut the TSSG down."

The entire room shook with sheer outrage.

The Squadron SNAPS

Collei shot up from her seat.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

Eula stood up next.

"DO YOU HAVE THE NERVE TO SAY THAT SHIT TO MY FACE!?"

Ningguang.

"HOW ABOUT I SHOVE THAT REMOTE UP YOUR ASS!?"

Mavuika.

"I THINK YOU'RE OUT OF YOUR GODDAMNED FUCKING MIND!"

Ei.

"HOW ABOUT I STRIKE YOU DOWN WITH A BALLISTIC MISSILE?"

Amber.

"CAN I PUNCH YOU, LIKE, A MILLION TIMES!?"

Clorinde.

"HOW ABOUT A DUEL TO THE DEATH, ASSHOLE?"

Wriothesley.

"YOU HAVE SOME NERVE TALKING LIKE THAT. WHAT IF MY FIST MAKES CONTACT WITH YOUR FACE?"

The room was one second away from absolute chaos.

Then—

BANG! BANG!

Two gunshots shattered the air.

Silence.

Everyone ducked.

Furina's voice was a snarl of fury.

"EVERYONE SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

A Loaded Conversation

A slow, eerie silence descended upon the briefing room.

Everyone froze.

Even Buzuleac.

Furina marched toward him, gun still in hand.

Her footsteps echoed in the tense, dead air.

When she stopped in front of him, her icy blue gaze locked onto his.

"You have some fucking nerve to walk in here and threaten to shut us down. Exactly who the FUCK do you think you are? Huh!?"

Buzuleac had the audacity to scoff.

"And you have some nerve, firing your weapon."

Furina's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on the pistol.

Then, her voice dropped into a venomous whisper—thick with her French accent.

"Je suis sur le point de te tirer une putain de balle, Général de Brigade… Dis un mot de plus, et tu n'as aucune idée de ce que je ferai de ton cul désolé…"

She took a slow step back, eyes still locked on him.

Holstering her pistol, she turned away, grabbed her helmet, and stormed out.

Jean exhaled sharply, turning to Mavuika.

"I think it's best you sit this one out… and watch our Brigadier General here."

Mavuika casually unholstered her weapon.

"My pleasure."

The squadron grabbed their helmets one by one, saying nothing as they walked away from the briefing room.

The tension in the air was thick—anger, disbelief, and suspicion swirling like a brewing storm. No words were needed. Everyone felt it.

Furina stormed ahead, her boots striking the pavement with unwavering determination.

There was no time for hesitation.

No time for regret.

This mission was fucked from the start.

But she wasn't about to back down.

Not now.

Not ever.

Intercepted

Just before she reached her Rafale, a firm grip on her shoulder made her stop.

"Furina!"

Jean's voice was sharp—urgent, yet laced with frustration.

Furina exhaled through her nose but didn't turn around.

"Was that really necessary?"

Silence.

She kept walking.

Jean quickened her pace, stepping in front of her, forcing eye contact.

"Furina! Talk to me!"

For a moment, Jean thought she'd be ignored again.

But then—

"Something is wrong, Jean."

Furina's voice was lower than usual, the sharp edge replaced with a chilling calm.

"He specifically requested my squadron. Again."

Jean frowned.

"We both have five pilots. It doesn't make a difference."

Furina shook her head.

"It's not just that. There are too many coincidences, Jean. Way too many."

Jean crossed her arms.

"Look, I get it. But was it really necessary to fire your weapon twice?"

Furina didn't even hesitate.

"If it's the only way to get people to shut the fuck up, then yes."

Jean let out a heavy sigh, rubbing her temples.

"Furina... Please. Just—don't take this attitude into the cockpit."

Furina inhaled deeply, then exhaled.

"I did what I had to do. Let's just get this mission over with."

With that, she brushed past Jean, heading straight for her Rafale.

Squad Concerns

Jean watched Furina go, brows furrowed.

"Has she ever had an outburst like this before?"

She turned to Clorinde.

Clorinde shook her head.

"No."

Jean's concern deepened.

"And when she's this angry... does it affect her flying?"

Clorinde sighed.

"No… It's the opposite."

Jean raised an eyebrow.

"The opposite?"

That's when Wriothesley joined the conversation.

"When Furina is pissed off, she actually flies better."

Jean blinked.

"Better?"

Clorinde nodded.

"Scary better. No hesitation. No wasted motion. No mercy."

Wriothesley folded his arms.

"She won't leave a single enemy alive. Even if they aren't a target."

Jean's eyes widened.

"R-Really?"

Both nodded.

Jean let out a breath, placing her hands on her hips.

"Well… let's make sure to support Waltz One."

"In case those Berkut lunatics show up again."

With that, the squadron split up, heading toward the hangars.

The Weight of Suspicion

Meanwhile, in her hangar, Furina was already strapped into her Dassault Rafale. The harness secured her in place, the oxygen mask resting in her lap.

Her gloved fingers hovered over the controls, barely touching them.

Inhale.

Hold.

Exhale.

For a moment, her mind cleared.

But only for a moment.

Because no matter how hard she tried—

One thought refused to leave her head.

"What the hell is this Brigadier General planning?"

Her fingers twitched over the console.

"He has something up his sleeve. I know it..."

Enough thinking.

She snapped on her oxygen mask, locking herself into the cockpit.

A flick of the switches, and the Rafale's twin M88 engines rumbled to life, the deep vibration beneath her seat grounding her.

The radio crackled.

"Primordial Squadron, ready to sortie."

Furina reached for her radio, her voice steady.

"Waltz Squadron, ready to sortie."

And with that—

The unknown skies awaited.

Alicorn Bay—The Raid Begins

Hours later…

They had arrived.

The warplanes screamed over the dark blue waters of Alicorn Bay, flying low to avoid early detection.

Two tight V-formations.

Left flank—Waltz Squadron.

Right flank—Primordial Squadron.

Nine planes.

Nine Aces.

One mission.

Destroy everything.

Then—AWACS Visionaire's voice crackled over the radio, his usual playful tone cutting through the tension.

"Looks like the party's ready for the guests! Food's buffet style, pick whatever dish you like! Go and get 'em, guys and gals!"

Furina grinned, flipping her safety off.

"Alright, let's go!"

She slammed her throttle forward, afterburners igniting as her Rafale M surged ahead, leaving twin streaks of fire against the night sky. The jet kicked against the air as she pulled into an aggressive climb, leveling out just above the harbor.

The rest of the squadron broke formation, peeling off into their own attack runs.

Opening Salvo

Furina's eyes locked onto the harbor below.

Enemy assets cluttered the port—massive drone container boxes, multiple cruisers and destroyers, fuel tankers, and AEGIS shore defense sites.

Too many targets.

Not enough time.

Furina rolled left, bringing her jet around in a sharp high-G turn before pulling up into a steep climb. The G-force pressed her into the seat, her vision tightening at the edges for a split second before she reached optimal altitude.

She cut speed and pitched down into a near-vertical dive.

Her HUD pinged a target—one of the massive drone containers.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Bombs away!"

She punched the release. A heavy bomb detached, tumbling toward the target.

Furina slammed the throttle and yanked the stick hard right, rolling her Rafale away just as the container erupted into a blinding explosion.

BOOM.

The shockwave sent debris hurtling into the air, scattering burning wreckage across the docks.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed the hit instantly.

"Enemy drone containers destroyed!"

Then, enemy radio chatter crackled through—

"Enemy aircraft! We can't defend—our systems are still down!"

"Get them running! And take out that plane with the Golden Crown!"

Furina's smirk vanished.

They were expecting her.

"But sir! It'll take at least 30 minutes to activate them!"

"Then all we can do… is pray."

Furina looped back for another pass, her crosshairs flashing over a Snezhnayan Navy destroyer.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Bombs away!"

Two 500-pound bombs detached and streaked downward.

DIRECT HIT.

The destroyer's superstructure split open, secondary explosions ripping through the hull as flames and smoke erupted into the night sky.

Furina pulled back on the stick, cutting through the black plumes of smoke, her jet leaving a streak against the moonlit clouds.

AWACS Visionaire chimed in—

"Another juicy kill for Waltz! Great work!"

No hesitation.

No remorse.

Next target.

Furina angled for a cruiser, adjusting her attack angle as flak bursts erupted around her. Tracer rounds zipped past her wings, the enemy scrambling to mount a defense.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Bombs away!"

The cruiser took a direct hit, its hull splitting apart as flames spilled into the ocean.

AWACS Visionaire laughed.

"That fried chicken is served well-done! Cruiser down, Waltz!"

Furina rolled right, her gaze locking onto the last AEGIS shore site.

Too dangerous to leave standing.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Fox Three!"

Her LACM missile streaked through the air, spiraling toward its mark—

IMPACT.

The shore defense site was annihilated in a blinding blast, its radar dish spinning violently before snapping apart in flames.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed.

"With the AEGIS destroyed, everything in the harbor is gone. But there's still more food downtown and in the suburbs!"

Conversations of the Enemy

Furina climbed away from the smoldering wreckage, but her radio suddenly crackled.

Enemy transmissions.

"Brigadier General Buzuleac… about Golden Crown… you sure we'll get a positive outcome this time?"

A second voice, deeper and colder, responded.

"Yes, Lieutenant General Camden. The operation is going as planned. 50% of the enemy forces have been neutralized."

Furina's grip tightened on the controls.

"This bastard really thinks he's calling the shots here, huh?"

Meanwhile, the rest of the squadron was racking up kills.

AWACS Visionaire rattled them off—

"Primordial Four—enemy AEGIS site down!"

"Primordial Two—enemy cruiser down!"

"Waltz Three—enemy container site down!"

Fire, debris, and smoke choked Alicorn Bay.

Furina dived low toward a destroyer, her heads-up display flashing a solid lock.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Bombs away!"

The ship erupted into flames, sending shockwaves across the water.

Furina cut through the smoke, her radio hot with squad chatter.

"You see this, Brigadier General? This is how an operation is done. Fast and efficiently."

Clorinde chuckled.

"And one of them is élégante et efficace."

Collei joined in.

"If you think she's elegant when she's pissed, you have another thing coming!"

Clorinde smirked.

"I didn't say anything like that, Cuilenen."

Meanwhile, enemy radio chatter grew frantic.

"We're losing more ships!"

"Deploy the drones!"

"The containers are destroyed! There's nothing left!"

"Then prepare the AEGIS!"

"All AEGIS sites are gone!"

Silence.

Then, a broken, panicked voice—

"Oh, Lord Archons… save us."

And a final, rage-fueled scream—

"DAMN YOU, GOLDEN CROWN! DAMN YOU TO HELL!"

Furina spotted a cluster of AA guns below.

TONE.

LOCK.

"Bombs away!"

The ordnance detached, whistling through the air before—

DIRECT HIT.

BOOM. The explosion ripped through the enemy emplacement, sending debris and fireballs into the air.

AWACS Visionaire whistled.

"That's another turkey sandwich for me, Waltz! Good work!"

More confirmations rolled in—

"Waltz Three—enemy AA guns destroyed!"

"Waltz Four—enemy patrol boat destroyed!"

"Primordial Two—enemy AEGIS site down!"

"Primordial One—enemy drone containers destroyed!"

"Waltz Two—enemy cruiser destroyed!"

"Waltz Five—enemy destroyer destroyed!"

Furina smirked.

"Voilà, c'est efficace!"

Then, the radio crackled again.

A dark, furious voice.

"Looks like you triggered the wrong pilot today, Brigadier General Buzuleac."

Furina's grin widened.

"Damn right you did."

The Last Stand of Alicorn Bay

The enemy's desperation was palpable.

"How many ships are left operational!?"

"Only two destroyers left, sir!"

"WHAT!?"

Then—

TWO MASSIVE EXPLOSIONS.

The shockwaves rippled through the bay, sending towering fireballs skyward. Shattered hulls groaned, metal twisting as the last two enemy destroyers were ripped apart by incoming ordnance. Flaming debris rained down, some chunks still spinning as they crashed into the water with a sickening hiss.

AWACS Visionaire's voice crackled through the radio, ever casual.

"And that's a Destroyer Sandwich! Nice kill, Primordial Four and Waltz Five!"

For a moment, the battlefield stood still. Smoke curled into the twilight sky, the wreckage of an entire fleet turning the once-proud Alicorn Bay into a graveyard of steel and oil-slicked fire. Bodies and lifeboats drifted aimlessly amid the wreckage, swallowed by the unforgiving waves.

Then—

Ningguang's voice cut through, as poised as ever.

"I'd love an ice-cold beer right now."

Collei chuckled, exhaling a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

"No beer for me today—an ice-cold soda will do!"

The enemy's final transmission crackled through their comms, a panicked, high-pitched scream.

"THEY DESTROYED ALL OUR SHIPS!"

Silence.

The last warship slipped beneath the waves, its fiery wreckage vanishing into the abyss.

Then, AWACS Visionaire's voice shattered the quiet.

"Enemy interceptors inbound! Eight bandits—Su-25s and MiG-29s!"

Furina's lips curled into a smirk.

"Alright… let's dance, mon chérie."

She slammed the throttle forward. Her Rafale M responded instantly, afterburners roaring as she surged toward the incoming MiG-29.

The Dogfight – Predator and Prey

The lead MiG-29 broke formation, trying to evade—banking hard left.

Furina mirrored every move, locked onto its tail like a phantom.

"Oh, you want to run? Let's see how far you get."

The MiG suddenly yanked upward, rocketing into a vertical climb.

Furina didn't hesitate. She ripped back on the stick, feeling the G-forces crush against her chest as she followed the enemy fighter into the sky.

TONE. LOCK.

Her thumb flicked over the trigger.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder shot off the rail—its white smoke trail slicing through the air.

The MiG pilot reacted fast—dumping flares and rolling, but the missile was already too close.

IMPACT.

A fireball erupted in the sky. The MiG-29 spun out of control, its burning fuselage spiraling toward the ocean below.

Furina nosed over, diving back down to low altitude.

WARNING. LOCK DETECTED.

She barely had time to react before the sharp tone screamed through her cockpit.

Another MiG-29 was on her six.

"Tch—persistent, aren't we?"

The enemy pilot had skill. The MiG stayed locked onto her, relentless.

Furina jerked left. Then right. Then left again.

The enemy matched every turn.

Sweat trickled down her temple. He wasn't going to shake easily.

Then—her smirk returned.

"Fine. Let's play."

She suddenly yanked the stick full back.

Her Rafale pitched up at an insane angle—almost vertical.

For a brief second, she hovered, defying physics.

PUGACHEV'S COBRA.

The MiG overshot.

Now it was her turn.

She pitched down—her targeting reticle locking onto the enemy's exposed tail.

TONE. LOCK.

"Fox Two!"

The missile streaked forward—straight into the MiG's engines.

BOOM. The entire aircraft exploded, debris scattering across the sky.

AWACS Visionaire whistled.

"Splash two, Waltz! A nice MiG sandwich!"

The Voice of Madness

Across the radio, more victories poured in—

"Splash one, Waltz Four!"

"Splash one, Primordial One!"

"Splash two, Waltz Five!"

"Splash one, Primordial Four!"

The sky belonged to them.

Then—

A new voice.

It didn't belong to anyone in their squadron.

At first, it was just laughter.

Low. Raspy.

Then it grew.

Unhinged. Maddening.

The hairs on Furina's neck stood on end.

Then came the words.

"Look at all of them. Dancing around like flies."

The voice was… amused. Deranged.

More laughter.

Then—

"SALVATION IS WHAT I SEEK!"

"THE DEATH OF ONE MILLION IS NOT NECESSARY!"

"IT'S A NECESSITY!"

Furina's blood ran cold.

"This captain… is critically insane."

Jean's voice came through, grim.

"That's what five years underwater does to you. Isolation at its finest."

AWACS Visionaire cut in, tone sharper than before.

"Last enemy interceptor retreated! We're in the clear!"

Victory and Banter

Clorinde's voice finally broke through.

"Well, what do you know?! We actually did it!"

Collei exhaled, still high on adrenaline.

"See? Sometimes, the more, the better!"

Furina grinned, catching her breath as she leveled out.

"That's right! Efficiency in motion!"

Amber's laughter rang over the radio.

"Literally! It's written on the side of your Rafale, Waltz! Efficace!"

Furina chuckled, running a gloved hand over the side of her cockpit.

"Damn right it is."

Dogfight Over Alicorn Bay: The Fall of the Berkuts

Just as the last enemy interceptor retreated, AWACS Visionaire's voice cut in again, sharp and urgent.

"Alert! Two bogeys inbound! Stand by for identification!"

Furina's eye twitched.

"Don't tell me... it's those two fucking idiots again!?"

Then—her worst fear was confirmed.

"Two Su-47 Berkuts."

Furina exhaled sharply, fingers tightening around the stick.

"Here comes Dumb and Dumber…"

Then—

BOOM.

"WALTZ FIVE, I'M HIT!"

Furina's breath caught.

"COLLEI! RETREAT! BACK TO BASE!"

Collei's voice crackled through the radio, shaken but still composed.

"Lost one engine! But I'm retreating—going as fast as I can!"

Then—

A new voice.

"Good. That's one less to deal with. We're coming for you, Waltz One."

Furina's brow twitched.

"I know you two dumbasses are listening."

Her voice dropped, cold as ice.

"Bien. Qu'est-ce que tu attends...? Je suis là. Venez me chasser, CONNARDS!"

She yanked the Rafale into a hard right bank, diving low over the water, the sea spray flickering beneath her canopy.

Ashen's Su-47 took the bait.

The Trap is Set

Collei's voice suddenly returned.

"I'm out of the warzone! But listen—I never heard a missile warning! The hit came out of nowhere!"

AWACS Visionaire jumped in, tension in his voice.

"All aircraft, keep an eye on your radars! The Berkuts may have stealth missiles! Use countermeasures the moment you hear anything!"

Furina's pulse quickened.

Stealth missiles…? That explains it.

But no time to dwell.

Ashen was closing in fast.

"I'm still behind you, Waltz!"

Furina's teeth clenched.

"How the fuck do you know my callsign!?"

Ashen scoffed.

"I've done my fair share of research… Captain."

Then—

A new voice.

"To the unidentified aircraft! Cease the fight and withdraw! That's an order!"

Furina's eyes widened.

"Brigadier General…!?"

Clorinde snapped in.

"It's too late, Brigadier General! Waltz has already started!"

Her missile alarm blared.

LOCK DETECTED.

Furina reacted instantly.

She pulled into a vertical climb—8 Gs.

The missile screamed past, barely missing her Rafale's tail.

But Ashen was still locked on.

"YOU'RE GOING DOWN, CAPTAIN FURINA DE FONTAINE!"

The Brigadier General's voice grew more desperate.

"Retreat now! That's an order!"

Ashen laughed.

"We're not retreating. It's either Waltz or nothing."

Furina gritted her teeth.

"YOU SIBLINGS ARE IDIOTS!"

Then—Zimny's voice, snarling.

"CALL ME AN IDIOT AGAIN, AND I'LL KILL YOU!"

Jean's voice cut in, confused.

"Siblings…?"

Ningguang followed.

"Brother and sister…?"

Furina's heart sank.

Her mind raced—but she had no time to hesitate.

She flicked her eyes to the radar.

Then—

She pulled a ruthless move.

Her thumb hit the spoileron.

Throttle—IDLE.

The Rafale stopped climbing—

And dropped.

A violent nosedive.

Ashen blew past her.

Now—they were head-on.

Face to face.

TONE.

LOCK.

Furina's eyes burned with cold fury.

"BON VOYAGE, ASSHOLE!"

Two Sidewinders launched.

Ashen's voice cracked.

"SHIT, SHIT, SHI—"

BOOM.

STATIC.

Zimny's Descent Into Madness

Then—Zimny's voice.

Distraught.

"ASHEN! ASHEN!!!"

Then—sobs.

Furina leveled out, her Rafale lining up behind Zimny's Su-47.

His voice crackled through the radio—broken.

"WHY, FURINA!? WHY!?"

His breathing hitched.

"I… I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE."

His voice cracked.

"FURINA!"

"PLEASE!"

"PLEASE, KILL ME!"

"I CAN'T DO THIS ALONE!"

"PLEASE!"

"KILL ME! I DON'T WANNA LIVE!"

Furina's crosshairs aligned.

TONE.

LOCK.

Her voice was steel.

"Fox Two."

Two Sidewinders left her pylons.

Two direct hits.

Zimny's Su-47 spiraled out of control, flames licking at its tail.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed.

"Both bandits splashed, Waltz!"

A Last Laugh Before Death

Silence.

Then—Zimny's voice.

Laughter.

Furina pressed the radio.

"To the pilot of the Su-47, EJECT!"

Zimny's voice trembled.

"No…"

Furina's grip tightened.

"EJECT, NOW!"

Zimny's voice shook.

"NO!"

His tone softened.

"I… I know my brother is in a better place now. And I know I'm going to hell."

His breathing shuddered.

Then—

"AND YOU, FURINA DE FONTAINE…"

"I'LL SEE YOU THERE SOO—"

SPLASH.

STATIC.

Furina exhaled slowly.

"What a fucking lunatic."

Jean's voice followed, bitter.

"Tch. Serves them right."

The skies were silent.

The battle was won.

But somehow—Furina felt like she had just stepped into something bigger.

The Brigadier General's Lies

The radio crackled to life once more.

A sigh.

"The problem has been eliminated."

Furina's brows furrowed.

As the rest of Waltz Squadron and Primordial Squadron arrived, she stole a glance at Jean.

She gave a subtle hand signal.

Jean nodded, switching to secondary comms.

"Furina? Why the secondary comm?"

Furina's tone darkened.

"Did you hear the Brigadier General speaking to those two lunatics?"

Jean frowned.

"Yeah… why?"

Furina cracked her knuckles.

"Because that son of a bitch knew them."

Jean's eyes narrowed.

"Yeah… why does he know them?"

Furina scoffed.

"His ass is getting handed to him when I land!"

Debriefing: Confrontation

An hour after landing, the pilots gathered in the briefing room.

The air was thick with tension.

Furina sat outside the room for a moment, gripping the armrest of a nearby chair. Her hands trembled—not from fear, but from fury. The mission was over, but the pit in her stomach hadn't left. The voices of the fallen still echoed in her mind. The sight of flames licking at the ocean's surface, the sound of warning sirens blaring in her headset—

Her fingers clenched into fists.

She shot up, storming forward.

BANG.

The doors slammed open.

All eyes turned to her.

Brigadier General Buzuleac stood at the front, straight-backed, arms folded behind him. His face was unreadable.

But before he could speak—

"YOU FUCKING BASTARD!"

Furina's body moved before her mind did. Her fist rocketed toward his face—

But before it could connect—

Ningguang and Mavuika grabbed her, pulling her back.

She stumbled—colliding into Collei.

CRASH.

A glass shattered against the floor.

Jean shot up.

"FURINA, STAND DOWN!"

"SIT!"

Furina gritted her teeth, her breath coming in sharp gasps.

Then—with a sharp exhale—she sat down.

The chair groaned under her as Collei let out a deep sigh, staring at the mess on the floor.

"Shit… my cola…"

Buzuleac straightened his cuffs, pretending the outburst hadn't rattled him.

Then, as if nothing had happened, he continued.

"The fleet at Alicorn Bay has been eliminated. This prevents the Razushitzel from resupplying or joining enemy forces—including the unidentified aircraft."

"The mission is a complete success."

Furina scoffed.

"Complete success, my fucking ass!"

Her blue eyes sharpened, fire burning in them.

"Those fucking mentalists knew you pretty fucking well."

Buzuleac's jaw twitched.

"It seems to me, Captain Furina, that you are mentally unfit. Report for a medical check. I'll decide if you're even fit to fly."

Furina bolted up.

"YOU FUCKING ASSHOLE!"

Eula and Amber grabbed her this time, dragging her back down into her chair.

"Furina, CUT IT OUT!"

Her nails dug into the table as she forced herself to breathe.

Buzuleac exhaled sharply.

"Get the MP."

Then—

A new voice.

"Right. Get the MP."

Buzuleac froze.

His eyes darted to the screen.

"V-Vice Chairman of Staff Boulmier!?"

Boulmier's voice was cold.

"The Razushitzel slipped into Alicorn Bay after you chased the forces away. It resupplied and escaped unharmed."

The room chilled.

"Their goal was never to join forces. Their goal was to resupply through the window YOU opened."

Then—Kaveh's voice.

"Of the 358 crew members aboard the Razushitzel during the incident, 330 survived."

"As of last recording, 300 remain on board today."

"However, 30 men left the sub."

A pause.

"We believe that some—or all—of them are now working as agents for the Razushitzel."

The air grew heavier.

"That means: Sabotage. Espionage. Cyber propaganda. Dissemination of intel."

Then—Kaveh's voice sharpened.

"Brigadier General, do you know someone named Solnev?"

Buzuleac stiffened.

"He's a former crew member of the Razushitzel…"

Kaveh's voice turned deadly.

"And your source of intel."

Silence.

Then—Boulmier's final blow.

"You are a fucking idiot, Brigadier General Buzuleac."

A pause.

Then—her voice grew colder.

"Worse than that—the radio communications during the mission suggest that you are a goddamn fucking traitor."

Buzuleac's face paled.

"Ma'am, if you check with Lieutenant General Camden, you'll understand this is a misunderstanding!"

Boulmier's voice cut through him like a knife.

"Lieutenant General Camden claims you were solely responsible for handling all aspects of the mission."

Her next words sealed his fate.

"So let me say it again—GET. THE. MP."

Furina stood up.

"No need for that."

Buzuleac turned to her.

But before he could react—

CRACK.

Furina whipped her pistol across his face.

The Brigadier General collapsed.

Unconscious.

A stunned silence filled the room.

Furina spat on him.

"Piece of fucking shit…"

She grabbed his legs, dragging him toward the door.

The MPs arrived just as she stepped out.

One of them blinked at her.

"Captain… what's going on?"

Furina glanced down at the knocked-out Brigadier General.

"Oh, him? We arrested him for treason. Knocked out, though."

The MP nodded.

"Alright, Captain. We'll take him to a cell."

Furina nodded back.

"Thanks."

The MPs hauled him away.

Furina returned to the briefing room and dropped into her chair.

Boulmier's voice resonated through the screen.

"Everyone, prepare. In a few days, we capture the Razushitzel. If they do anything stupid—sink it."

The video call ended.

The pilots dispersed.

Jean lingered.

She glanced at Furina.

"Huh. So I guess you're satisfied now?"

Furina smirked.

"Yup. Asshole deserved it."

Jean chuckled, passing her a beer.

"Yep. He sure did."

They clinked bottles.

Took a sip.

Jean grinned.

"Feeling bad for Collei's cola?"

Furina chuckled, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Y-Yeah… I owe her one…"

Jean smirked.

"Better get her a new one before she throws a punch at you next."

Furina snorted.

For the first time since landing—

She let herself relax.