Wings of the Stars

Nine Days Later...

At Iron Gale Airbase, the hangars of both Primordial and Waltz Squadron were alive with motion. Mechanics and ground crews moved with practiced efficiency, rearming aircraft, running final diagnostics, and checking every bolt, panel, and weapon system. The rhythmic sound of fuel pumps, clanking tools, and radio chatter filled the air—a symphony of preparation for war.

Today's mission was different.

A decisive strike.

A chance to turn the tide of the Snezhnayan-Teyvat War.

Their objective?

Destroy the Sepharis Bird—The Karatel.

A massive airborne fortress, armed to the teeth and protected by an energy shield that had already claimed far too many lives. And to take it down, they would rely on the Oprichnik's Judgment, a railgun complex buried deep in the snowy plains of Boreal Bastion.

The History of the Oprichnik's Judgment

The complex was old. Its railguns were first constructed in the early 2000s as part of an experimental long-range strategic defense initiative. At its peak, it housed eight powerful railguns, capable of striking high-orbit targets and obliterating threats before they ever reached earth's surface.

But war changed everything.

During the Celestial Rebellion War, a rogue faction attempted to seize control of the complex, hoping to use its devastating power to wage war on the nations of Teyvat. Before they could, a legendary unit—the Stormhawk Squadron—was deployed. In a daring strike, they destroyed Railguns One, Two, Three, Five, Six, Seven, and Eight, ensuring the complex could never be used for tyranny.

The battle left the facility crippled. To make things worse, an asteroid impact on the northern wall of the complex nearly buried it beneath ice and debris.

Now, decades later, it had been revived.

Five days ago, a combined force from Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Fontaine, and Natlan launched a daring assault. After brutal fighting—suffering a 38% attrition rate—they secured the ruins of the Oprichnik's Judgment. Since then, engineers had worked around the clock to restore the only remaining operational railgun—Railgun Four.

The Briefing Room – Iron Gale Airbase

The atmosphere was heavy in the briefing room. The pilots of Waltz and Primordial Squadrons sat in silence, listening as the holographic display flickered to life.

At the front of the room, Jean, standing tall, took a deep breath before speaking.

"Alright, listen up. Our counter-offensive in the last operation has completely changed the war's trajectory. Our allied forces have recaptured most of their lost territories and are pushing into mainland Snezhnaya."

The map shifted, highlighting a red zone still under enemy control.

"However, the area around the Teyvat Orbital Elevator remains in enemy hands. As long as the Sepharis Bird, Celestia holds position, attempting to take the elevator is suicide."

Another update. Two flight paths appeared—one tight circle near the Elevator, another larger loop extending further out.

The Celestia.

And the Karatel.

Jean's expression darkened.

"So, we're going to use the Oprichnik's Judgment to take down the Karatel."

A tense silence.

Furina clenched her fists, jaw tightening.

Her mind flashed back—Operation Liberty.

She had been flying as Tidal Two, Lyney's wingman. The Sepharis Bird's massive engines had been their target. She and Lyney had struck the two primary propellers. Lynette, flying as Nocturne One, had attacked the six sub-propellers.

They were all destroyed.

But then came the MQ-101s—small, lethal drones that swarmed out of the Karatel's underbelly. Furina and her squadron engaged, shooting them down one by one.

Then—Ianus Squadron had arrived.

Their mission: disable the Sepharis Bird's onboard air defenses.

A deep, mechanical hum suddenly rumbled through the sky.

Above them, the Sepharis Bird's energy ring—once a calming blue—flashed an ominous, bloody red.

Then, the urgent voice of AWACS Zaytun over the radio.

"EVERYONE! BREAK AWAY FROM THE SEPHARIS BIRD! I REPEAT—BREAK AWAY!"

She could still hear it. The panic.

She saw it again—the ring expanding outward in a terrifying pulse of energy.

Anything caught inside was simply… gone.

Ianus Squadron's F-16s—disintegrated in an instant.

No debris. No wreckage. No parachutes.

Just… gone.

Furina's breath hitched as she snapped back to the present.

Her fingers trembled.

Jean noticed.

"Furina? You okay?"

Furina quickly glanced at her. "Y-Yeah... I'm fine."

Jean studied her for a moment before nodding.

"Alright. Back on track. Not only was the Oprichnik's Judgment originally meant to destroy asteroids, but it was also instrumental in past wars. However, with only Railgun Four operational, we have a problem."

The display changed, showing Sentinel Ground Forces fortifying positions.

"Our mission is twofold: defend Railgun Four at all costs and provide close air support for our ground forces while maintaining air superiority."

Then, Jean delivered the worst part.

"The officer in charge of the railgun's operation isn't sure if it can fire more than once."

A chill ran through the room.

One shot.

That's all they had.

Jean continued, her voice unwavering.

"In other words... we only get one chance to take down the Karatel. If we fail, the Sepharis Bird will retreat, and we'll have lost our best opportunity to cripple the Snezhnayan war machine."

The tension in the room thickened.

Jean's gaze swept across the pilots.

"Snezhnayan forces have already detected our presence at the complex and are moving in. We will be facing heavy opposition in the air and on the ground. Expect wave after wave of interceptors, drones, and attack helicopters."

She took a step forward.

"The ground forces at the complex will operate under the callsign Sentinel. They're putting their lives in our hands. We are their shield. Their sword. We do not let them down."

The display shut off. Jean grabbed her helmet.

"Alright, everyone. Let's head out and sortie."

Chairs scraped back.

The pilots of Waltz and Primordial Squadron stood, grabbing their helmets, slipping on their gloves. Some adjusted their flight suits. Some exchanged quick nods. Others remained silent, mentally preparing themselves for what lay ahead.

As they made their way to the apron hangars, Furina and Jean were the last to leave.

Furina exhaled slowly.

One shot.

One chance.

This time, they wouldn't fail.

Moments Later – Iron Gale Airbase, Apron

The sound of jet engines idling in the distance rumbled across the apron as Jean and Furina walked side by side. The sky overhead was semi-overcast, casting a cold gray light over the airbase. Pilots and ground crews moved around them with a sense of purpose—this wasn't just another mission. This was the mission.

Jean glanced at Furina, noticing the distant look in her eyes.

Something was bothering her.

She reached out, placing a firm but gentle hand on Furina's shoulder.

"Furina? Are you okay? You tensed up back in the briefing room."

Furina exhaled a slow, measured sigh, as if trying to push away the weight in her chest.

"Just… bad memories, that's all."

Jean frowned slightly. "Mind telling me what happened?"

Another sigh. This one heavier.

"Back then, I was still part of the Fontaine Air Force—the Armee de l'Air 405th Squadron."

Jean's eyes widened slightly. "You mean… the Nocturne and Tidal Squadron?"

Furina nodded. "Yeah..."

Her grip tightened around the helmet in her left hand, her knuckles turning white.

"I already encountered the Sepharis Bird. The Karatel. During Operation Liberty."

Jean stayed silent, letting her continue.

"We were tasked with crippling its propulsion system. Lyney and I went for the two main propellers. Lynette targeted the six sub-propellers. We took them out, but it didn't matter... it was still operational."

Her breath hitched slightly as she relived it—the adrenaline, the chaos, the horror.

"Then… the Karatel deployed its shield."

Jean immediately understood.

"You saw it happen, didn't you?"

Furina nodded slowly.

"Ianus Squadron was breaking away after trying to disable its defenses. They were flying clear when... the shield expanded."

She bowed her head slightly.

"They were vaporized. Just like that. No wreckage. No ejections. Just… gone."

Jean closed her eyes for a moment. She knew loss.

After a long pause, she stepped closer, wrapping a reassuring arm over Furina's shoulder.

"Listen, Furina… I know how much it hurts to lose your squadron. But this? This is your chance."

Furina turned her head slightly, looking at Jean.

"Your chance to avenge them. To take down the Karatel once and for all."

Furina swallowed hard. "R-Right…"

Jean gave a small smile, lifting her arm and giving Furina a firm pat on the back.

"Go get 'em, Ace."

Furina froze.

Ace.

She hadn't heard that in so long. Not since she flew with Nocturne and Tidal Squadron.

A wave of nostalgia and fire washed over her.

She clenched her fists.

"Wilco, Dandelion."

Jean gave her a knowing nod before turning toward her own hangar, heading for her F-15E Strike Eagle.

Furina took a deep breath, then turned left toward Hangar One.

Inside, her Dassault Rafale M sat waiting. Sleek, elegant, and lethal. A machine of war. Her machine.

She stopped by the nose gear, dropping to one knee.

Bowing her head.

"This one's for you, Ianus Squadron. I won't let you down."

After a moment of silence, she rose to her feet, a renewed sense of purpose burning in her chest.

Climbing the integrated ladder, she settled into the ejection seat, securing the five-point harness.

Helmet on. Oxygen mask secured.

With a sharp hiss, the canopy sealed shut.

Her blue eyes flicked over the instrument panel. Everything was set. She reached for the main electrical knob, switching it from STBY to RIGHT.

A low whine filled the cockpit as the Right M88 engine began to spool up.

25% N2…

Her hand moved to the engine management lever.

Pushing it from CUTOFF to IDLE.

The M88 engine roared to life, stabilizing at idle.

She repeated the process for the Left engine.

Both turbines hummed steadily—her heartbeat synchronized with the Rafale's pulse.

She clicked her radio.

"Waltz Squadron, callsign check."

Clorinde: "Waltz Two, checking in."

Wriothesley: "Waltz Three, checking in."

Eula: "Waltz Four, checking in."

Collei: "Waltz Five, checking in."

Furina glanced outside.

In the distance, Primordial Squadron was already taxiing out, their aircraft rolling onto the runway threshold.

The last F-15E Strike Eagle of Primordial Squadron passed by her hangar.

She eased the throttle forward, her Rafale gliding out of Hangar One and onto the taxiway.

"Waltz One, taxiing."

One by one, her squadmates followed.

Engines growling.

Jet wash distorting the air behind them.

Ten fighters.

Five from Waltz Squadron. Five from Primordial.

Lined up, waiting for clearance.

A deep inhale.

Then—the radio crackled.

"Waltz and Primordial, you are cleared for takeoff. Winds 250 at 10 knots. Cleared unrestricted climb to FL250."

Jean's voice came through the radio, calm and steady.

"Primordial Squadron, rolling."

One by one, the F-15E Strike Eagle's roared down the runway, afterburners lighting up like torches.

Then—her turn.

Furina tightened her grip on the throttle.

"Waltz Squadron, let's go."

She pushed forward.

The Rafale lurched ahead, picking up speed. The runway lights blurred past her canopy.

140 knots…

160 knots…

180 knots…

"Rotate."

She pulled back on the stick.

Her Rafale lifted off.

A smooth climb, nose pointed toward the sky.

The land beneath her shrank.

The clouds opened up.

Waltz and Primordial Squadron soared into the sky, engines screaming toward their destination.

Toward Oprichnik's Judgment.

Toward battle.

This time—

They wouldn't fail.

Operation Thunderstrike – Air Support Engaged

The squadron took an hour and fifteen minutes to arrive, delayed slightly by the mid-air refueling process.

By the time they entered combat range, the Complex was already under siege.

The fortress-like installation was immense—a massive circular wall wrapped around the entire structure, its towering bulk battered and war-torn. The most glaring wound: a gaping crater in the southern section, the result of an asteroid impact years ago. That breach had since become a vulnerable entry point, and now, enemy ground troops poured in, clashing viciously with the Sentinel forces.

Above the battlefield, colossal railguns stood like ruined sentinels. Seven out of the eight were crippled, their barrels drooping downward, twisted and shattered beyond repair.

Only Railgun Four remained intact—its massive barrel pointed skyward, waiting, preparing.

As both Primordial Squadron and Waltz Squadron descended toward the Complex, a familiar voice crackled over the radio.

"Attention all allies. Air support has arrived. But to get Railgun Number Four online, I need one thing from both aerial and ground units: time."

The comms flared again.

"As long as you can buy me that, I guarantee my program will shoot down the Sepharis Bird Karatel."

A second voice cut in—sharper, urgent.

"That is Major Chevreuse of the Fontaine Special Forces. I'm Specialist Xilonen from the Natlan Special Forces. Commencing operation to take down the Karatel!"

Then Furina's voice came through, crisp and authoritative.

"Waltz Squadron, spread out and eliminate all enemy ground forces attacking the Sentinels!"

Jean followed immediately.

"You heard her! Waltz, break and spread out!"

With that command, both squadrons snapped out of their V formation, peeling off into separate attack vectors.

Eula's voice crackled over the radio.

"So this is the infamous Railgun Complex… It's bigger than I imagined. Gives off a creepy abandoned aura too."

Mavuika chimed in right after.

"And those massive cables… Are they running this thing on generator trucks?"

Jean answered, her tone steady.

"Yeah. Ever since the last war with the rebels, power was cut off from the complex. The Teyvat Peacekeeping Force has been secretly repairing Railgun Four for this exact moment."

Furina wasn't listening.

She was already locked onto her next target.

She dove, locking onto a cluster of enemy armor swarming around Sentinel Seven—a tank, an APC, and an AA turret.

Lock.

Tone.

Her HUD flashed red. Target acquired.

"Bombs away!"

The bombs detached from her wings, tumbling for mere seconds before erupting into a firestorm. The force of the blast rocked the battlefield, sending debris and flames skyward.

Furina yanked the stick back, pulling up hard to avoid the blast radius.

AWACS Visionaire's voice crackled through the radio, mid-chew.

"Oh! Sorry, Waltz. I was munching on a sandwich—damn, that was a direct hit!"

Furina laughed.

"Glad you remembered!"

As she streaked past Sentinel Seven, she glanced down to her right—the soldiers below were locked in brutal combat, holding their ground against the invading forces.

She wasn't done yet.

Pulling ahead, she looped around for another run.

Her next target: a howitzer, flanked by a squadron of tanks and APCs.

Lock.

Tone.

"Bombs away!"

Two more bombs detached and plummeted.

Direct hit.

The howitzer erupted in a fireball, its surrounding armor thrown into chaos.

Sentinel Seven's commander came through the radio, voice filled with relief.

"Thanks for the close air support! We're in the clear!"

AWACS Visionaire confirmed.

"That's one down, Waltz. Good work."

Furina pulled left, scanning for her next target as other pilots continued their assault.

The Railgun's Countdown Begins

"Primordial Five, direct hit!"

"Primordial Two, direct hit!"

"Waltz Three, APC down!"

"Waltz Five, enemy tank eliminated!"

The battle raged on.

As Furina approached the eastern section of the complex, another transmission came through.

"Main systems functioning!"

It was Major Chevreuse.

"Get the gun prepped and set up!"

Xilonen's voice echoed in the background.

"Yes, ma'am! The gun is almost ready—final checks in progress!"

Chevreuse exhaled hard.

"Good. We just need one damn shot to take it down."

Furina locked onto another APC and a tank.

Lock.

Tone.

"Bon voyage!"

She pulled up—moments later, another explosion erupted below.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed.

"Target destroyed, Waltz!"

Incoming Bombers

Collei's voice came in, urgent.

"I've got additional hostiles on my radar! Fantastic timing!"

AWACS Visionaire chimed in.

"Waltz Five is right. We've got incoming bombers, bearing 140!"

Furina snapped her head left.

"Waltz One, engaging bombers!"

Collei fell into formation.

"Waltz Five, supporting Waltz One—on your six!"

A new transmission.

"Major! This is not looking good! 60% green, 20% yellow, 20% red!"

Chevreuse cursed under her breath.

"Well, this hunk of junk has been sitting here for twenty-five years—I'm not surprised it's glitching. Deal with the reds and yellows, then update me!"

"Roger."

Furina gained visual on the enemy bombers.

Three TU-95s, flying in tight formation.

Collei trailed right behind.

"Waltz One, Waltz Five, engaging!"

Furina grinned.

"Alright, when I break away—you fire."

Collei nodded.

"Wilco!"

They lined up head-on with the lead TU-95.

Lock.

Tone.

"Fox Three!"

A high-speed missile streaked from Furina's jet, slamming into the TU-95's cockpit.

The bomber lurched violently—then exploded mid-air.

Furina opened fire on the second bomber, her machine guns shredding its left wing clean off. The massive aircraft spiraled out of control, plummeting toward the earth.

She pulled hard right, banking away.

"Waltz One breaking off—your turn, Waltz Five!"

Collei grinned.

"Alright!"

Lock.

Tone.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder missile launched from her wing, screaming through the sky before slamming directly into the third bomber's cockpit.

The enemy aircraft erupted in flames, tumbling downward.

AWACS Visionaire cheered.

"That's all the bombers! Good work, Waltz and Cuilenen!"

Another ground unit came through the radio.

"Leave the enemy aircraft to the TSSG! Our target is the ground!"

Chevreuse's voice cut in again.

"Level's rising slowly… 48%... 50%… COME ON, YOU BIG PIECE OF SHIT!"

Another transmission—urgent.

"This is Sentinel Three! We need close air support!"

Furina immediately responded.

"Waltz One inbound to your position—CAS range in one mike!"

She swung left, lining up for another attack run.

An APC, a tank, an AA truck, and a turret—all clustered together.

Perfect.

Lock.

Tone.

"Bombs away!"

A massive explosion sent metal and debris flying in all directions.

The radio crackled.

"To the pilot with the gold crown—thank you!"

Furina smirked, winking as she glanced down at the battlefield.

"De rien, ma chère~"

A Sentinel trooper hesitated.

"What did she say?"

Clorinde chuckled.

"She said, 'You're welcome.'"

"Haha! Glad you're here!"

The battle was reaching its climax. The battlefield, once a chaotic frenzy of missile trails and gunfire, now simmered into a brutal standoff—the enemy had thrown everything they had, but the Teyvat Strategic Strike Group were still standing.

AWACS Visionaire continued to confirm more kills, the radio buzzing with the voices of pilots marking their victories.

"Target destroyed, Primordial One!"

"Enemy tank destroyed, Primordial Three!"

"Another APC destroyed, Waltz Two!"

Then, an unexpected transmission crackled through the enemy's frequency.

"These damn fighters keep taking out our reinforcements!"

"We're running low on tanks! But we got the helo unit on their way!"

AWACS Visionaire jumped in.

"More bombers inbound! Altitude 8,000 feet, bearing 287!"

Furina's grip on the controls tightened as she turned hard right, G-forces slamming her into her seat.

"Waltz One engaging!"

Clorinde's voice was right behind her.

"Waltz Two engaging with Waltz One!"

Then, over the allied radio, Major Chevreuse's voice cut through, laced with frustration.

"Power levels aren't going up! Bypass that condenser!"

Xilonen's response was immediate.

"Roger! Bypassing!"

Furina and Clorinde shot through the skies, side by side, the distant silhouettes of the bombers now visible in the upper stratosphere. Furina tilted her head up, calculating.

"Rapperia, climb now!"

Both pilots yanked back on their sticks, their aircraft roaring into a near-vertical ascent. The altimeter spun rapidly as they rocketed toward the enemy squadron.

Furina's HUD locked onto two bombers.

Clorinde's did the same.

Two tones.

Two locks.

"Fox Three!"

"Fox Three!"

Four long-range air-to-air missiles streaked away.

Then.

Explosions lit up the sky as all four bombers were ripped apart, debris scattering into the high atmosphere.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed the kills.

"Enemy bombers down, Waltz One and Two!"

Then Eula's exasperated voice burst through the comms.

"I'm getting tired of this shit! It's like fucking whack-a-mole!"

Jean sighed.

"Stop complaining and keep flying! The outcome of this war depends on this mission!"

The enemy radio crackled again, growing more desperate.

"We're throwing everything at the complex! We're out of bombers and running low on air support!"

As Furina leveled out from the climb, her radar pinged a new group of hostiles—ground reinforcements heading straight for Sentinel Five.

Her targeting system locked onto a cluster of advancing vehicles.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two LCAA missiles launched, slicing through the cold air as Furina pulled out of the steep dive, the Rafale's frame straining but holding steady.

A moment later—

Boom! Boom!

AWACS Visionaire confirmed the destruction.

"Target destroyed, Waltz One!"

Then Jean's voice came in, tense.

"Waltz One, I have visual on the helo unit. There's also a squadron of A-10s heading my way—I'll need support!"

Furina shoved the throttles forward, her Rafale screaming toward Jean's position.

"Waltz One en route! ETA half a mike!"

More voices joined in.

"Waltz Five en route!"

"Primordial Four en route!"

Jean wasted no time. She locked onto an A-10 Warthog.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Two!"

A Sidewinder missile streaked from her aircraft. A second later, the A-10 was engulfed in flames. As Jean banked over the wreckage, four more explosions followed—the entire A-10 squadron was wiped out.

AWACS Justice confirmed.

"That's the A-10 squadron down!"

"All that's left is the Apache unit!"

Furina switched channels.

"Primordial One, Four, and Waltz Five—form up on me! Let's take them down in unison!"

One by one, the responses came in.

"Primordial One, Wilco!"

"Waltz Five, Roger!"

"Primordial Four, Wilco!"

The four jets realigned into formation, executing a perfect 180-degree turn to face the incoming helicopter squadron.

Their HUDs flared red—locks acquired.

Four tones.

Four confirmations.

"Fox Three!"

"Fox Two!"

"Fox Three!"

"Fox Three!"

Four missiles launched simultaneously.

"Break away! Break away!" Furina shouted.

She pulled up hard, climbing high.

Collei followed her, breaking in the same direction.

Jean veered left.

Raiden broke right.

Below them—four massive explosions.

The Apache squadron was reduced to fire and wreckage.

AWACS Visionaire's voice came through, triumphant.

"That's the helo unit down!"

Then, good news at last. The allied radio came to life, filled with relief and gratitude.

"This is Sentinel One! We're in the clear! Thanks to the pilots with the crowns!"

Another voice.

"Sentinel Two! We're in the clear! Thank you, Primordial Squadron!"

Then Major Chevreuse's voice broke through.

"Railgun Four is ready to fire!"

Xilonen confirmed.

"Everything is in the green! Standby for firing sequence!"

Furina exhaled, gripping the controls as she prepared for whatever came next.

The Sepharis Bird Karatel's time was running out.

Then.

The battlefield seemed to freeze.

"Everyone halt! I'm picking up a massive signature!"

AWACS Visionaire's voice cut through the radio, tension thick in every syllable.

Furina barely had time to react before the unthinkable happened.

"Shit! It's the Sepharis Bird Karatel!"

Her grip tightened on the sidestick, eyes flicking skyward.

And there it was.

The Sepharis Bird.

A monstrous war machine, its two colossal middle propellers spun with eerie precision, each one large enough to dwarf an entire fighter jet. Surrounding them were six smaller sub-propellers, their synchronized rotations keeping the airborne juggernaut in perfect, controlled suspension.

The behemoth loomed over the battlefield, casting a shadow so vast that it swallowed the ground in darkness.

Then—movement.

From the underbelly of the Sepharis Bird, dozens of small bogeys detached, dropping like metallic rain.

Furina's heart pounded.

"EVERYONE, GET READY! THE BIG BIRD HAS DROPPED ITS PAYLOAD—MQ101 DRONES!"

AWACS Visionaire quickly followed.

"Confirmed! MQ101 Drones! Protect Railgun Four at all costs!"

Furina slammed the throttles forward, her jet roaring in response.

The swarm of drones scattered, weaving chaotically through the sky.

She rocketed past them, then yanked her controls hard into a 180-degree turn. Her nose aligned with the swarm—time to hunt.

Trigger down.

The machine gun roared, spewing fire and tungsten death into the sky.

Five drones exploded instantly, their burning remains tumbling to the battlefield below.

AWACS Visionaire's voice came through.

"Splash five, Waltz! Keep at it!"

Furina kept her finger on the trigger, weaving through the chaotic airspace.

The drones darted in and out, trying to break her pursuit.

She twisted, barrel-rolled, and realigned.

Another burst of fire—five more fell.

"Another five, Waltz! That's ten!"

The sky was a storm of burning metal, tracers, and explosions, but Furina didn't let up.

She had to clear the sky. She had to buy time.

As Furina ripped through the drones, Chevreuse's voice suddenly cut through the comms.

"We're ready to fire! Begin countdown sequence!"

Xilonen began.

"Ten."

"Nine."

"Eight."

"Seven."

"Six."

"Five."

"Four."

"Thre—"

"STOP THE COUNTDOWN!"

Chevreuse's sharp yell sent a wave of confusion through the comms.

Furina frowned. "What?! What happened?!"

Chevreuse exhaled sharply.

"We lost visual!"

Collei's voice snapped back.

"You're shitting me! It's literally in plain sight!"

Then, Wriothesley's voice cut in, urgency laced in his tone.

"I see smoke! Right beside the railgun! Looks like a vehicle!"

A pause.

Then Chevreuse cursed.

"Shit! The radar vehicle is down!"

Another pause. Then, a slow, frustrated sigh.

"Without it, we can't fire the gun."

Silence filled the radio. The mission had just collapsed.

Then, a new voice.

Ningguang.

"But we have eyes. The oldest sense in the book."

Chevreuse was exasperated.

"But they… they're too unreliable!"

Then, the Sentinel ground troops chimed in.

"Then we can't carry out our mission!"

"Our lives are on the line here!"

"We have no choice!"

Furina's mind raced.

Then—it hit her.

"If we slow down the Sepharis Bird… then maybe we have a chance!"

A brief silence.

Then Jean's voice.

"Right! New mission! Destroy the propulsion of the Sepharis Bird!"

Furina smirked.

"Wilco! Waltz One engaging!"

She yanked her jet upward, climbing fast toward the flying behemoth.

One by one, other pilots chimed in.

Clorinde.

"Waltz Two engaging with Waltz One!"

Amber.

"Primordial Two engaging with Waltz Squadron!"

Collei.

"Waltz Five engaging!"

The four fighters rocketed skyward, piercing through the battlefield's chaotic airspace.

The rest of the squadron remained below, defending the railgun from the relentless swarm of drones.

Now, it was a race against time.

The Sepharis Bird loomed above them, its engines spinning with an unstoppable force.

But nothing was unstoppable.

Furina smirked, her grip tightening on the sidestick.

"Time to bring down a goddamn monster."

The four fighters cut through the sky like blades of vengeance, diving beneath the massive Sepharis Bird Karatel before pulling up into attack formation.

Furina's voice rang sharp over the radio.

"Waltz Five, Two, and Primordial Two! Aim for the sub-propellers! Leave the main ones to me!"

The three pilots responded in near unison.

"Wilco!"

Furina locked onto the left main propeller.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Two HCAA missiles streaked forward, engines burning bright.

Direct hits.

The left propeller stuttered, then ceased moving entirely.

AWACS Visionaire confirmed the kill.

"Left main propeller has seized!"

Furina rolled her jet slightly right, switching targets to the right main propeller.

Tone.

Lock.

"Fox Three!"

Another pair of HCAA missiles launched away.

Another direct hit.

"Main propellers down!" AWACS Visionaire called.

Then, three explosions followed.

"Sub-propellers Four, Five, and Six are down!"

The remaining fighters shifted to the left side, now targeting sub-propellers One, Two, and Three.

Three tones.

Three locks.

"Fox Three!"

"Fox Three!"

"Fox Three!"

Six missiles streaked away—two for each.

Direct hits.

"All sub-propellers down!" AWACS Visionaire confirmed.

For the first time, the Sepharis Bird faltered.

Then—the unexpected.

A deep, ominous hum resonated through the air.

The massive blue energy ring encircling the Sepharis Bird shifted to red.

Furina's eyes widened.

"FUCK! EVERYONE, BREAK AWAY! BREAK AWAY!"

She threw her jet into a dive.

Collei banked hard right.

Amber followed suit, diving alongside her.

Clorinde broke left, narrowly escaping.

Then, the shield expanded.

A red energy wave burst outward, nearly catching them.

The radio crackled to life.

Chevreuse's voice rang through, filled with urgency.

"We have it in sight! Commence countdown!"

Xilonen's voice followed.

"Ten."

"Nine."

The Railgun Four adjusted slightly downward, its massive barrel angling toward the crippled Sepharis Bird.

"Seven."

"Six."

The sky was eerily silent, save for the hum of engines and the crackle of static.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

Then, in unison, Xilonen and Chevreuse shouted—

"FIRE!"

The Railgun discharged.

A sonic boom erupted, shaking the air as the projectile ripped through the sky.

The energy shield shattered on impact.

A split-second later—impact.

The Sepharis Bird convulsed.

Then, a secondary explosion ripped through its center.

The titanic war machine lurched violently, its structure buckling.

Smoke and flames erupted from within.

Its right wing twisted apart.

Then—the final deathblow.

A deafening CRACK.

The Sepharis Bird split in half.

One piece spiraled uncontrollably. The other plummeted straight down.

Then—contact.

The ground shook.

A fireball erupted skyward, a column of destruction reaching thousands of feet high.

Then—silence.

Victory.

The radio erupted.

"Hell yes! Sepharis Bird is down!"

"WOOHOO! LET'S FUCKING GO!"

"That's something I have to tell my kid when I get home!"

The four fighters stabilized, slowing to form up into an element formation.

Then, Wriothesley spoke.

"Is it over?"

A beat.

Then, Chevreuse's voice—calm, victorious.

"Yes. Sepharis Bird Karatel is down. Operation successful."

She turned to Xilonen.

"This one is yours, Xilonen. A good lesson on manual operations."

Xilonen chuckled.

"The real MVPs are the TSSG!"

Then, the ground troops joined in.

"Without them, we'd have lost for sure!"

"The two lead flights of the TSSG—they're the Teyvat Big Shots!"

"The Teyvat Big Shots?"

A moment of silence.

Then, Clorinde glances at Furina, amused.

"You mean… the Teyvat Big Shot?"

Jean chuckled.

"Looks like we're on the offensive now!"

"With Karatel down, the enemy's range is cut in half—along with that damn bird!"

Then, AWACS Visionaire chimed in.

"That just means more pie and pizza for us!"

Furina chuckled.

"Are we gonna eat the whole thing?"

Eula chimed in.

"Yeah? I'm starving here!"

AWACS Visionaire laughed.

"You fellas are always hungry. Bottomless appetites. We can talk about this back at Iron Gale—RTB!"

The Primordial Squadron and Waltz Squadron formed up, climbing back to cruise altitude.

As they settled into the long flight home, Jean's voice came over the radio.

"Waltz."

Furina responded.

"Yeah?"

Jean chuckled.

"Congratulations, Waltz. You are the Ace."

Furina froze.

Her mind flashed back.

Her second sortie.

Nocturne and Tidal Squadron.

She could still hear Lyney's voice.

"You got ace again, Waltz! You're leading the formation."

Furina's eyes widened.

"Seriously?!"

She could almost hear Lyney's laughter.

"Waltz, you earned it. Let it sink in. RTB."

Her mind snapped back to the present.

She exhaled, a small smile forming.

"Haven't heard that in a while."

Mavuika raised an eyebrow.

"When was the last time you heard that?"

Furina sighed.

"My second ever sortie."

Silence.

But deep down, she was happy.

Even as old memories lingered, she knew—

This was her moment.

She was Waltz One.

She was the Ace.

As they soared home, the enemy radio crackled—

Unheard by them.

"We wasted our time for nothing."

"Yeah… but everyone was babbling about something."

"A plane with a golden crown."

"Take a look at that plane and its pilot if you can, will ya?"

Hours later, the skies over Iron Gale Air Force Base were calm once more.

The battle was over.

The pilots had returned.

The Sepharis Bird Karatel was gone.

And with it, the war had shifted.

The briefing room was filled with pilots, officers, and strategists. Exhaustion hung in the air, but so did a sense of victory.

Jean stood at the front, her eyes scanning the room as the operation timeline played on the display.

She spoke with quiet authority.

"Good work, everyone. This has changed the outcome of the war—massively."

The room remained silent, but the weight of those words settled over them all.

Jean continued.

"With Karatel down, Snezhnaya's defensive range is cut in half. Only one Sepharis Bird remains—Celestia."

A murmur rippled through the room.

The last Sepharis Bird.

The final pillar of Snezhnaya's aerial dominance.

Jean nodded.

"Because of this, we can expect counteroffensives from our neighboring forces from Mondstadt, Liyue, Inazuma, Sumeru, Natlan, and Fontaine."

She exhaled, looking at each of them in turn.

"Get some rest, folks. You've earned it."

A beat.

Then, her final order:

"Dismissed."

Pilots, officers, and engineers dispersed throughout the base.

Some headed to the mess hall, desperate for a warm meal.

Others went straight for the barracks, their bodies begging for rest.

A few lingered on the airstrip, staring at their aircraft, still processing what had just happened.

And then there was Furina.

She walked straight to her room, away from the noise, away from the celebrations.

The door clicked shut behind her.

She exhaled deeply and sat at her desk, running a hand through her hair.

Then, her gaze drifted to the photo sitting on the corner.

It was old.

Taken aboard the Ousia-Class Carrier Blancheur.

Tidal Squadron.

Nocturne Squadron.

She picked it up, tracing her fingers over the familiar faces.

She smiled, but there was a weight in her chest.

"That was for you guys... Karatel is down... forever."

She closed her eyes, whispering.

"May the Ianus Squadron rest in peace… Fly in paradise, fellow pilots."

She sat there in silence, letting the moment sink in.

Outside, the war raged on.

But for now—

Just for tonight—

Furina allowed herself to remember.