Der Grossmann.

[Shadow.Broker]

All enemy combatants had died. The transport did as well, but that was not the point. Nor a victory for them. Twelve fighters were obliterated to ruin one Heron. His Valkyrie had suffered minimal damage. A few dents and burns, one weapon melted down, and the reactor was running a little too hot. The usual.

The squadron proudly flew home. Their current home was the battleship Faust sitting in orbit of New Berlin. It had been stationed there to assure the populace that Rheinland was stable able to defend its people from the enemy within. It also regulated traffic past the capital.

"They die too easily," A squadron-member, Karl, spoke up.

"Always do," That was Anya.

"Are you complaining?" That was his own voice.

"Well...no..."

"Then don't complain."

"Otto, why are you always such a downer? We won. Let's gloat!"

Otto frowned wryly. Gloating showed you held no respect for the enemy. He hated that. "Angry little children; let the real men fly," He said with fake amusement. His smile was just as fake.

"Cut the chatter! News from the front," This was Hanz, their flight leader. "The fleet just broke through to Honshu. The Kusaran dogs have been crushed in the Sigmas. Planet Honshu and the main Kusari fleet is in sight." The pride in his voice was audible, but there was something else. He held a monotone, one that only broke when he had heard of the Rheinland victories. Or when they shot down an enemy squadron.

"Hell yeah!" Anya smiled at them from her video feed, her face mask now removed.

"It appears that we have our victory," Otto piped in. But for how long? He was not much of a cynic, but at times he doubted this nation. Waging war with that many nations at the same time was ludicrous. But the victory with Kusari was a stepping-stone. If their navy was crushed in the first wave, they wouldn't need to use their entire might. Things were beginning to brighten up.

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