Burgadish’s analysis showed that the vanguard within the three clusters of JAM aircraft appeared to be anti-interceptor assault units.
“They’re all giving off the same radar emissions and are all the same size. Can’t ID them, though… The main force is to the rear, surrounded by escort units, possibly dummy planes. Their target points are our frontline bases, Faery Base, and if they break through, they might even try diving into Earth itself.”
“They’re unmanned?”
“Considering we don’t actually know what the JAM really look like, I can’t say for sure. But they may be autonomously functioning units, like the Flip Knight.”
No human had ever made direct contact with the JAM, and so nobody knew exactly what sort of life-form they were. A strange thought suddenly crossed Rei’s mind: Maybe they weren’t living creatures at all. Maybe they were something that defied all human comprehension.
“Lieutenant, two bandits, closing fast. Range three-zero, bearing 1-6-R.”
“Engaging.”
Medium-range air-to-air missiles set to attack mode. Auto intercept system, activated. The intercept computer automatically acquired the two approaching targets. After releasing two missiles simultaneously, Yukikaze rolled away from them.
Switching the throttle control to auto mode, the computer opened up the throttles to MAX. Analyzing the situation, it calculated the optimal withdrawal course, then automatically cancelled the intercept system as the threats were terminated.
“Main enemy force passing directly below us…Flip Knights, launching!”
Gun mode didn’t activate the auto intercept system, and Rei wondered whether he would have been able to beat the Knights if he’d used it. Maybe, but in a way, it would have only confirmed the colonel’s theory. There was no time to think about it now. He pursued the moving battle line of the JAM invasion. The Knight’s carrier plane retreated before them.
The JAM had lost close to a third of their number at the Early Warning Line, but the main formation penetrated C-zone unscathed. Command and control passed from AC-4 to AC-3. Faery Base’s intercept control computer was probably working at full capacity.
Yukikaze was flying at high altitude, looking down on the targets from thirty thousand meters, using its powerful pulse Doppler radar to monitor the JAM flying ahead and below at a line-of-sight distance of seventy klicks. Rei maintained this distance as they flew. The JAM were on a straight-line course for Faery Base. The invasion was on.
The multidisplay was lit up like a Christmas tree. The interceptors launched by the frontline division bases were fighting hard. The JAM reassumed their V-shaped battle formation, with the main force splitting into smaller formations on the left and right. They seemed to be headed for frontline bases TAB-15 and 16. Rei adjusted his own course to starboard. MK-1, the Flip Knight’s carrier plane, was on course for TAB-15, the JAM’s main objective.
“Enemy, increasing speed,” said Lieutenant Burgadish. “Speed of one-point-seven. Just under four minutes out from TAB-15.”
“B-3 to MK-1. Withdraw.”
On the display, the JAM were quickly closing in on MK-1. Five Flip Knights prepared to intercept them. The symbols on the display were so close together now that they were almost merged. But Rei decided that it was all right. The JAM were slipping past the carrier plane two klicks to its side—
“EMP, confirmed! Nuclear detonation!” Burgadish shouted. “Looks like the Knights destroyed a JAM missile in the middle of the formation.”
A warning tone sounded and a readout suddenly appeared on the stores control panel. RDY FK I II V.
“The carrier plane’s gone. I estimate that nuke was in the fifty kiloton range. Eight targets now closing on TAB-15.”
“MK-1. Colonel.” There was no reply. “MK-1, this is B-3. AC-3, respond.”
“This is AC-3. MK-1 has been destroyed. B-3, provide guidance for K-I, II, and V. K-III and IV have been shot down.”
“How much longer can the Knights stay in the air?”
“About three-zero more minutes. Indicating attack targets. B-3, don’t get too close to the JAM.”
“B-3, roger.”
Rei flipped the Knight guidance switch on the stores control panel, establishing a command link between Yukikaze and the Knights independent of the other planes. He pushed the missile release button and Yukikaze’s fire control system sent the Knights toward the targets indicated by the control plane.
There were eight large JAM aircraft flying in formations of two, three, and three. They kept at a distance of about five klicks from each other, never drawing any closer, and from this Burgadish reckoned the one unit in the center was carrying a nuclear missile.
“They’re maintaining a space cushion so that they aren’t all destroyed in case that missile detonates.”
The three Flip Knights were nipping at the heels of one of the three-ship JAM formations. The JAM fighters quickly detected the pursuit and the two groups of planes began to maneuver. Rei flicked the dogfight switch to OFF with the tip of his finger, transferring the Knights’ gun control from Yukikaze to the individual units so that they could attack on their own judgment. Since the control protocol was hastily installed temporary logic, he couldn’t give them advance guidance control. Rei left it to the Knights themselves.
The data transmitted by the Knights was projected onto the HUD as he watched. The three enemy craft were coming into the Knights’ firing range when one of the JAM pulled a snap turn and rushed at Knight-I to attack. Knight-II provided cover, crossing Knight-I’s flight path, and a firing cue appeared on the HUD as Knight-II opened up with its laser cannon, annihilating the JAM fighter. Knight-I continued straight along the clear path that had been opened up for it, with Knight-II now to its rear, providing backup.
The other two JAM moved into a fighting wing formation, closing on their target at supersonic speed. Now that it had become apparent that they’d most likely lose in a dogfight, the JAM to the rear seemed to be sacrificing themselves to shield the nuclear missile carrier that was now in the lead, and worse still, accelerating.
Knight-V charged forward and began firing its laser at the fighters as soon as they were in range. A hit.
Having lost its escorts, the last JAM flew on, staying just outside of firing range. They were now barely six minutes from the target point.
This was all happening too far away to be seen by his naked eye, so Rei watched it on his HUD and on the multidisplay below. Humans aren’t necessary, huh? he thought bitterly. Colonel Guneau had died in battle precisely because humans were necessary to the fight. Rei could feel it in his skin, as though he’d been struck. That’s right, he thought. I’m the one who’s fighting here. It wasn’t the JAM versus Earth machines: it was the JAM versus people, just as Major Booker had said. It was just so obvious, but… Watching the movements of the JAM and the Knights on the displays was more than enough to cause his misgivings to well up. He was beset by a powerful feeling of alienation, as though his mechanical allies were fighting of their own accord.
Maybe they are, Rei thought as a shudder traveled down his spine. Perhaps it wasn’t such an obvious truth that people were necessary to the fight. The JAM were aliens. It wouldn’t be so incredible for them to believe that it was machines, not humans, that ruled Earth.
Humanity believed that the JAM had arbitrarily attacked them, but perhaps Earth’s machines had accepted the JAM’s declaration of war. If that were true, then humans had no reason to be in this war. If that were true, then the JAM and Earth’s machines might regard this as their fight, one that humans had no place in.