Author Notes:
This chapter made me giddy when I wrote it lol. It's nice nod to the Ace Combat series, one that I try to make whenever I can because it's the universe I've grown up with when I still fumble around as a kid. Enjoy this little chapter before we go onto something more serious!
As always, if you all are able to, then please support this story however you can. That Q&A chapter won't release itself if there's questions incoming too :D
Oh, and don't forget the picture set
https://photos.app.goo.gl/waZgkRa3UQhqKQBi9
https://www.pa-treon.com/Heartbreak117
https://ko-fi.com/heartbreak117/goal?g=0
----------------------------------------
Berlin Space Command is a vast area on the outskirts of Berlin that's heavily restricted and not even shown on most military maps, much less civilian ones. This is to prevent the potential fallout from a confidential map somehow making its way into foreign hands. It is never too careful when the things ongoing at the BSC may as well hold the potential to shape not just the future of the Reich but also the entire world at large. Due to all the secrecy and security around the existence of the BSC, one in the known can easily surmise that ONI is very much the one behind and funding the site. While it's not a dark site per se, BSC is ultimately an extension of ONI Section Four, the premier research division of the Office of National Intelligence. This means that ONI pulls out all the stops to ensure the confidentiality of BSC, even if it means ensuring that the site is scrubbed clean of the planet. It's taken to the extreme whenever there's an important event or test taking place there. Today, it's no exception.
Instead of the usual launching of spacecraft and missiles, however, this day marks the tenth testing of a planetside mass driver. The mass driver is a method of non-rocket space launch that uses a linear motor to accelerate and catapult payloads up to high speeds. It's a design inspired by the Gauss cannon that Ningyo and Mei had inadvertently constructed all those time ago. Expanded upon by the scientist Johnsen who is in charge of the Gauss cannon developments and perfected by the brainiac trio, the mass driver is an attempt at creating a safer, faster, and more affordable way for Belka to maintain their sovereign over the virgin void beyond the sky.
The design for the prototype mass driver is quite something indeed. It's 15 kilometers in length, with prior tests showing that it could launch cargo well into Low Earth Orbit, or at least give them a major boost. That said, the length of the rail is still woefully short to ensure the safe launching of passengers. The shorter mass driver rail means that astronauts will be induced with an unbearable amount of G-force if they're to make a break for the orbit. Technically, there are magical ways that can be used to cancel out the G-force or at least dampening it, making it possible for a test using a manned payload. Nevertheless, such a test would have to wait until the experimental technology is matured. Using the principle of magnetic levitation, the mass driver will accelerate a payload up to high speed which will either be enough or not enough to reach orbit, depending on the characteristics of the payload. If the rail is too short and the payload is too cumbersome, the mass driver will release the payload, letting the rocket boosters of the object kick in. The initial launch velocity provided by the mass driver will drastically reduce the amount of boost needed to be provided by rockets to achieve orbit. The payload is usually an SSTO, otherwise known as a single-stage-to-orbit vehicle. An SSTO vehicle reaches orbit from the surface of a body using only propellants and fluids and without expending tanks, engines, or other major hardware.
The usage of a mass driver makes it so that they're many times cheaper than using a standing rocket launch system, even if they're reusable. Built to last and capable of launching payload after payload at an absurd speed of one payload per hour, one can immediately see the benefits. This is only made possible by using a Void Reactor to power the mass driver. The infinite power is then run through the launch track, with runic carvings facilitating the precise energy required for each launch. To protect the durability of the somewhat exposed prototype mass driver, the design is built from modular blocks, enabling fast replacement of a damaged piece, with each piece also being carved with protective runes as a further safety measure. Controlling everything is a prototype supercomputer, built with the same Magitech theories behind the mass driver itself. Since a giant Gauss cannon system requires absolute precision to ensure the best outcome, just pure flesh and blood calculation won't be enough. As such, a system that combines the best of both worlds has to be implemented to reduce the failure margin to almost null.
Coincidentally, the supercomputer design is coded by Ningyo herself. With how much the Belkan Reich has progressed in terms of Magitech advancements, Ningyo can't be everywhere at once to handle the computational tasks that used to require her. It's why these supercomputers are now needed, with the first few prototypes being trialed for integration into the wider military branches, especially those involved in using Reality Anchors. Prior events in Sardegna have alerted the top brass about the pros and cons of the Anchors, with the cons will hopefully be mitigated by a powerful supercomputer in play.
Overseeing the testing today, however, is the Reich Marshal herself alongside her accompanying young VIPs. The latter is comprised of Ningyo, Mei, and Sirin's gang of young girls. The sisterhood is there, partly because they have nothing interesting to do, partly because they're there to celebrate Ningyo's achievement in helping to create the mass driver... Yeah, but that's not all the reason here, isn't it?
Ignoring Erika and Lola and the rest of her personal security detail who have grown desensitized to Yuki's random outburst of bullshittery, an even younger Smol Yuki can be seen snuggling in between Ningyo and Sirin. The sisterhood has taken to Yuki downsizing to an eight-year-old with a surprising degree of excitement, with them all bonding with Yuki to a degree far greater than before. When gently asked why by the younger Marshal, they all reply that she is so cute that they may as well treat her as a teddy bear. Hence, after a period of fooling around in the VIP observation bunker, the girls finally settle into the couches, with Ningyo and Sirin taking turns patting or feeding Smol Yuki with some snacks on a lounge table. Until the test can officially begin, however, the other girls have to entertain themselves by doing a variety of things.
Mei and Bella marvel at Smol Yuki, wondering just how her temporal clones even work. Fortunately, they don't have the heart to ask since a temporal clone's creation tends to be... Deadly. Yuki doesn't have it in her to say the truth that she basically devours a death row convict's Time to fuel hers and her clones' own.
Griseo, Ningyo's normally introverted love interest, is painting the picturesque scene of the mass driver with a sunsetting highlight. In her field of view, Rozaliya is forcing her twin Liliya to pose for the painter to work on her canvas. Mash is by Griseo's side, helpfully handing the painter's tools to perform her magic with an endearing smile. The lilac-haired girl finds their new family dynamic ever so heart-warming. If only their mother, Cocolia, is allowed to regain some of her freedom, it would be all the better then. Still, Mash does understand that Mother Cocolia has had it coming for some time. Ultimately, Cocolia has gotten off lightly for what she has done.
Seele, and by extension her inner companion Veliona, are seemingly enraptured by Bronya's visage as the latter focuses on her reading materials. Bronya, who is ever so curious about everything Magitech that the Reich has graced the world with, requested for information about the mass driver's inner workings. At her age, Bronya is sensible enough to understand that her request might come off as a bit much, even to Yuki who has treated them very well thus far. Still, her curiosity is killing her slowly since her power is the creation of everything she has an in-depth knowledge of. Bronya is pleasantly surprised when Smol Yuki has Erika hand over a data tablet. Containing in the table are the relevant information that will satisfy Bronya'scraving for knowledge, and a series of tests for her to do once she finishes digesting everything. The latter is a challenge for the stoic bright gray-haired girl, it's the price she has to pay to get access to classified data. Acing the tests means Bronya will get more things to learn and more toys to play with. Failing them equals her being grounded from furthering her knowledge for some time. That will be no different than banning her from cuddling with Seele or Veliona, which will ultimately result in her getting withdrawal symptoms.
Unfortunately, Daria has an important exam today. It's why she wasn't invited for this trip. That said, if she manages to score a high enough point, Daria may become the youngest graduate of her Academy, fast-tracking her on her path to command an armored fighting vehicle.
Moving back to Ningyo and Sirin, the pair is having the time of their lives. For quite some time already, they have been on the receiving end of Yuki's loving attention as their big sisters, and no, they don't count Elysia or Bella. To have Smol Yuki who is visibly younger than them acting like the little sis have kicked their protective instinct into overdrive. Smol Yuki is, in their eyes, so preciously lethal that oversized coat and cap of hers. It's literally cuteness overload and their minds can't help but wander to some slightly dangerous territory. No doubt they will request for Smol Yuki to make a regular appearance in the future.
Heh, if only they came across Chibi Yuki instead. Would they fight each other to get possession of her then?
Possible occurrences aside, it's time to get back to the launch test.
After a period of prep work and an announcement, the unmanned SSTO vehicle is ready to give another go at flying to space. Carrying non-critical supplies but loaded to full, the SSTO will be using the mass driver for the initial boost before finishing off the rest of the journey using its rockets. When the countdown starts, the girls stop whatever they're doing and pay close attention to the mass driver which now hosts a spacecraft with aerodynamic curves. Yuki's guards though, in a show of absolute professionalism, maintain their tight security perimeter against threats outside and inside.
"5, 4, 3, 2, 1, zero! Lift-off!"
With a soundless kickstart, the SSTO starts speeding forward with increasing speed due to the maglev.
"SSTO increasing speed!"
"SSTO passing Checkpoint 1!"
"Passing Checkpoint 2!"
"Passing Checkpoint 3!"
In the blink of an eye, the SSTO jumps off the track without any hassle. Igniting its rear thrusters, the SSTO vehicle is now making a speedy dash toward space, the final frontier if one's a romantic.
"SSTO status report!"
"Everything's clear. All systems are go."
"Yeah, I'm seeing it now. It's a beautiful sight. This is great!"
"Observation room reporting. The SSTO is climbing smoothly. Congratulations."
Even though this is the tenth time already, the entire BSC cheers at another resounding success. Blinking at the dazzling trail left behind by the SSTO, the girls marvel at it first before reality sinks in. Mankind has truly started to venture far beyond the confines of their homeworld. Rather than jumping around excitedly, the girls take a stance to seriously memorize what they have just witnessed, down to every detail. Griseo however, doesn't stop painting, not at all. One more finishing touch is all she needs. The result speaks for itself though.
A bridge of metal, of flame and smoke, reaching into the starry sky, untainted sky far above. Using a small paintbrush, Griseo names what will become a famous painting in the future.
The Trailblazer.