The first light of dawn began to spread across the Pacific.
The first sunlight slowly broke through the clouds while the ocean reflected shades of blue and silver.
The fifty aircraft advanced at a speed that normal vessels could not match.
Their dimensional reactors left luminous trails behind them as the formations remained perfectly synchronized.
Ahead… the twenty Kartnod ships advanced in an unshakable formation.
Black structures floating over the ocean like fortresses.
Even at that distance, they imposed pressure.
Each one was larger than the most modern naval destroyers of any contemporary military.
Victoria observed the tactical readings projected on her visor.
We are fifty.
Twenty enemy ships.
She activated her communicator.
—Enemy contact confirmed.
—Distance: ninety kilometers.
—Estimated time to interception: four minutes.
—All units. This will be our attack plan.
Five tactical routes appeared on the screens.
Five groups.
Ten aircraft per squadron.
Marianne looked at her visor. "Understood," she replied.
—Group One.
—We will go directly through the center.
—Our task is to break their formation and draw as much attention as possible.
Several voices responded.
—Understood.
Victoria continued.
—Group Two, left flank.
Melina smiled slightly as she descended close to the ocean surface.
—Copy.
The ten aircraft disappeared into the ocean mist.
—Group Three, right flank.
—This is Elena. Moving into position.
Elena's aircraft split toward the east, activating dimensional stealth.
—Group Four and Five.
Two new voices appeared.
—Valeria ready.
Victoria watched as both formations began to rise.
—You will wait for my signal —Victoria ordered.
—Understood.
Silence returned.
Ahead of them… the Kartnod armada continued advancing.
Massive dark-black ships that instilled fear.
Marianne breathed slowly.
—I never thought I would see something like this in my entire life…
One of her teammates responded: Yes, those things are truly intimidating.
A few nervous laughs appeared over the channel.
Victoria used the intercom again.
—All units ready, on my signal.
At that same moment, alarms began sounding on the enemy ships.
—Targets detected, Melina reported.
—Maintain formation.
Then Victoria spoke again.
—Listen carefully.
Everyone went silent.
—They are showing a conventional defensive line.
—Group One… move.
Marianne immediately accelerated.
Ten aircraft cut directly through the sky toward the fleet.
Without deviating.
Without slowing down.
Like silver lances.
The enemy ships reacted.
Multiple blue points began illuminating across their hulls.
Preparing a first barrage.
Hundreds of blue beams cut through the air.
The ocean seemed to explode beneath them.
The aircraft performed maneuvers that seemed impossible at that speed, avoiding the shots by centimeters.
—Now! —Victoria ordered.
Melina emerged from the left flank.
Her aircraft burst over the ocean at maximum speed.
—Fire!
Dimensional missiles struck one of the ships directly.
Blue flashes spread across the black structure.
Then Elena appeared from the opposite side.
Energy beams pierced their armor instantly.
The Kartnod formation began to fragment.
Exactly as Victoria intended.
—Break their lines —she ordered.
And then… twenty ships descended from above.
The aircraft unleashed their full power.
Dimensional bombs cut through the air.
A massive ship took the full impact on its upper section.
The entire structure shook violently.
Bright lights began emerging from multiple cracks.
—Direct hit confirmed!
—Critical damage to target!
Victoria observed everything through her visor.
—It worked…
But then something changed.
New signals appeared on the tactical map.
What is this?
An operator spoke immediately.
—We confirm a dimensional rift has opened. Be careful. All units ascend and move toward the coast.
The screens displayed dimensional distortions opening over the ocean.
Fifteen additional ships emerging slowly.
But the new structures looked even larger.
Victoria could not believe what she was seeing.
—So this is their true strength…
Meanwhile… at Base Lefebvre.
Smoke still covered part of the facility.
Technicians ran through damaged hangars while new aircraft were being prepared.
Keeve watched the incoming combat footage.
—What are those ships? he asked.
—Those are the Silver Eagles, Aiden replied.
To be honest, I always thought they were just stories—I didn't believe they were real.
An operator spoke quickly.
—The Silver Eagles have already entered combat.
Suddenly, an alert appeared on the screens.
Fifteen new ships were approaching.
—How is it possible they are there so quickly? Keeve exclaimed.
We must not forget they are part of the Kartnod fleet; we do not know their technology.
We must move to support them immediately.
—How many units are still operational?
—Twenty-eight, Lissa replied.
Meanwhile, at the naval base in Portland.
Several destroyers were still burning.
But survivors were reorganizing.
Mechanics worked desperately.
One of the communications officers observed the new enemy signals appearing over the ocean.
Fifteen more ships appeared off the coast of Mexico.
—How long until we are operational and can return to combat? the Admiral Smith asked.
—We can set sail in fifteen minutes. Very well—have all ships depart as soon as they reach full operational capacity.