Chapter 27
"Unknown D-Link plane heading towards hanger 370-18A, identify yourself!"
The Midnight Hunters arrived at the headquarters of the World Federation. Or to be exact, the Sky Ship of the World Federation that is stationed near the frontline.
If they properly study the autopilot protocol that Smith placed in their plane, they might be able to disable it, but they did not do anything.
The shock that Smith brought to them weighed them too much. Especially Mad Hat Camile.
Part of her is saying that she should go after Smith. However, she did not do it.
The reason is not certain. But perhaps it is because of the fear that she will be entangled with the mess that Smith brought.
But then again, there is something else. Her heart is in pain that she could not understand. Or rather, it is because of the reason that she dares not think.
'I cannot go on and follow Smith. There is not enough reason for me to do that.' However, the more she says that, the more it pains.
Mad Hat Camile is staring blankly outside the windshield while seated at one of the pilots' seats. At the same time, Parker is lying unconscious at one of the seats at the back, secured with a seat belt.
Fortunately, his condition is stable. But Mad Hat Camile and Scarlet are not sure if there are hidden injuries.
Meanwhile, Scarlet is beside Parker watching his condition.
"I repeat! Unknown D-Link plane heading towards hanger 37-18A, identify yourself!"
The man on the watch tower asked again because the Midnight Hunters did not respond.
"We are the midnight hunters. We are here for our report as well as because we have received casualty."
Seeing that Mad Hat Camile did not intend to respond, Scarlet is the one who responded.
"Oh… okay. Hanger 37-18A is not available, please go on to hanger 37-127."
Scarlet stared at Mad Hat Camile for a while before calling her.
"Boss! We need to land at hanger 37-127."
"Okay, I will work on it."
…
Moments later, they have finally landed. However, they are not treated as usual. Instead, they are confined in a fine unit, while Parker is treated in the hospital. At the same time, indirectly being used as a hostage against the Midnight Hunters.
…
"Jam, Fiend, report!" Matias said as he is seated in his office.
In the next second, a man and a child were projected by the hologram.
They are none other than Jam and Fiend the two A.I.s of the World Federation.
"The Midnight Hunters has collaborations with the target. They are now detained," Jam replied with her childish voice.
"Do we have concrete proof of that?" Matias asked.
"There is. The Midnight Hunters are the hired mercenary of Smith. They said it themselves. However, they also said that they are betrayed by the first variable."
Matias listened intently.
"In that case, do we still have reason to keep them alive?"
It's not that Matias wants to eliminate the Midnight Hunters and disregard their previous contributions. But according to the rules of the military is that the traitors will be punished.
Of course, the rules are only for the show. They only work on those with statuses.
Meanwhile, what Jam said next made Matias heave a sigh of relief.
"Yes, sir Matias. An intelligent A.I. like Smith would use all resources to the fullest," Jam replied, which made Matias think.
According to Jam, they would be useful in the future. And when Matias thinks about it, they might indeed be useful. 'Why did Smith let them go if he could have killed them?'
"Then, continue to monitor them. At the same time, Fiend, prepare all the troops. The Northern Alliance is unto us."
"Yes sir."
"Continue on the report."
"The server of the cornhub is destroyed," Jam made another report that made Matias frown.
"That p**n company?"
"Yes, sir. Apparently, Smith is hiding on their server. And a few moments ago, their server overloaded which resulted in an unprecedented accident."
"Where is he, then?"
"We are not sure but two Fighter Vs as well as a Missile Carrier B-70 is on the move." This time, it is Fiend who replied.
It seemed that the two Fighter Vs are not the only enemy planes that are unto Smith.
…
Meanwhile, Smith continued to go against the two Fighter Vs.
"Shit! Where is he? Why wouldn't shoot?"
Smith used stealth which made him invisible in the sensors of the Phantom Cannons of the Fighter Vs.
"Do we have to shoot manually?" one of the copilots asked.
"No need, set the sensors to basic mode."
Beep!
"I see, it worked."
The advanced sensors attached to the Phantom Cannons are based on noise detection and heat signature. Of course, there is also the image identification and classifications using a camera.
However, the camera is barely used. The sound, as well as the heat signature, are the ones that are widely used because it has a rather wide range.
But that is only possible because of the advanced programing which allows echolocation possible.
Meanwhile, the basic mode of the sensors is based on the image captured by the camera. Of course, that is also coupled with advanced object identification.
"Open fire!"
In the basic mode, the Phantom Cannons are working again. And… it did not take long before Smith is about to be bombarded with plasma beams.
"They have seen through my stealth?" Smith is taken aback, but it is not that he did not expect this situation.
After all, his stealth is only achieved by faking his heat signature and blending as one with the surroundings. Of course, he is unable to blend like a chameleon since he is not one.
"Well, it's not that I don't expect this. It bought me a bit of time. But that's already enough. Hehehe!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A series of plasma beams flew towards Smith. All of them are fired in a tricky manner.
If it is someone else, they would have already been drowned.
"Puny! Do you think that'll hit me?" Smith said as he evaded the plasma beams.
However, although he said that, he really is overwhelmed. Still, he is not worried.
"Rejoice for you're the first one to taste a real deal power of my Armageddon."
Smith then aimed the Armageddon towards the barrage of plasma beams.
Then, the next thing that happened shocked the pilots of the two Fighter Vs.
"What happened?"
"The plasma beams disappeared?"
"Where did they go?"
Some of them blinked several times while the others rubbed their eyes.
However, Smith has a smug expression as he hovered his air while holding the Armageddon on his shoulder.
"Plasma Counter-Shock," Smith mumbled. "Hehe, all plasma beams are useless against the Plasma Counter-Shock."
The Plasma Counter-Shock fires a shockwave that makes the compacted energies of the plasma beams unstable resulting in them to severely attenuated or weakened and will disappear before they even reach their target.
"My turn!"
While the pilots are still in shock, he began to aim again.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Unfortunately for Smith, before he could fire, a barrage of plasma beams rushed toward him. Of course, this is not the work of the pilots, rather it is because of the automated firing system.
They fired another barrage of plasma beams even before the pilots could react.
"Rapid fire!"
And with that, the pilots are awakened from being dazed and activated the rapid fire of the Phantom Cannons truly drowning Smith with large numbers of energy bullets.
Boom!
It did not take long before an explosion was heard. But before the pilots could rejoice and call it a victory, Smith dashed out from the explosion and zoomed towards one of the Fighter Vs.
"How's he not dead?"
That is a good question. But no pilot cared about it at the moment.
May, one of the main pilots of one of the Fighter Vs, paled as he saw Smith dashing towards the other Fighter V.
She has the same question as the others.
"How's he not dead?"
At the same time, she also has the same wish as them which is for Smith's death. However, there seemed to be no genie to grant their wish.
She saw with her own eyes as Smith dash towards the other Fighter V aside from the one that she is piloting.
Boom!
She paled once again because when Smith appeared near the other Fighter V, Smith aimed his Armageddon.
But that's not the reason why May paled. She paled because Smith fired a beam that cannot be graded as B.
"Who said that the target only has a B graded weapon?"
In their briefing, they are told that the weapon of their target is only graded B. But judging by the plasma beam that Smith fired from his Armageddon, that does not seem to be the case.
"The firepower definitely reached grade A."
"Retreat!"
And knowing that, May did not hesitate to turn the Fighter V around and fled with her tales in between her legs.
She did not care if she would be called a coward as long as she has her life. Besides, she knows that no one will mock her for this. Everybody will do the same if they are in her shoes.
Meanwhile, her copilot did not say anything and could only gulp the more he thought about the beam that Smith fired.