Vol 3. Chapter 16: Establishing the Base
“Target airspace secured. No hostile forces detected in the area.”
“Zone is clear. Cargo planes moving in.”
“Expanding surveillance perimeter. Deploying large-scale power supply drones.”
Scout planes had gone ahead and confirmed the safety of the operation zone. The cargo aircraft now followed through the secure air corridor.
Simultaneously, power transmission drones hovering 400 kilometers behind and 20 kilometers above the operation zone began advancing, expanding the range of their microwave power field.
These large power-supply drones weren’t meant to beam energy directly to each individual machine. Their role was more about powering the frontline microwave transmission infrastructure itself.
Currently, they were supplying power to the eight recon planes from a distance.
“Cargo aircraft ETA to drop zone: 13 minutes. Diverting Recon D, E, and F to ultra-low altitude surveillance.”
“Utsugi taking control of recon units. Beginning recon flights.”
“Akane to Erika: Transferring control of the drop team.”
“Erika, drop team control received. Commencing rapid descent sequence.”
The current operation, Operation: Give Me Oil, was being executed almost entirely by Akane, Ichigo, Utsugi, Erika, and Olive. Ringo was monitoring the proceedings as an observer. Commander Eve was officially listed as “spectator.”