Summoning Japan: Flights of the Fancy

Chapter 10 - Out of Competition

Ragna, Gra Valkas Empire

A nervous Arlie Trigger was giving an explanation to Siegs in the hangar of the Carsline Company.

"These are the technology verification units. The one in the front is the first unit, and the one in the back is the second unit."

Siegs glanced at the two four-engine aircraft and voiced his question.

"The engine cowl looks different."

"The first unit uses the Scorpii engines of Antares arranged in a skewer formation to achieve an output of 2.000 horsepower."

"Is the second unit different?"

"It uses the next-generation Tauri engine developed for the Antares' next generation, also with a 2.000 horsepower output."

"The next generation of Antares, huh? It should have been developed and deployed earlier," Siegs mumbled.

The Antares was invincible in their old world, Yggdra, and this new world. The military-industrial complex took it for granted in that situation. If the next-generation Aldebaran had been deployed, the current situation on Irnetia Island would have been much easier.

Speaking of which, opposing the integration of land-based and naval combat aircraft in the first place would have been the right thing to do. Well, they did oppose it, but couldn't follow through. When the Carsline Company and the Navy jointly presented the cost-effectiveness estimate of integrating the Army and Navy fighter aircraft to the Emperor, the Army had no material to argue against it. The advantage of Army aircraft over Navy aircraft was the design flexibility due to the lack of the need for takeoff and landing on aircraft carriers, making them more high-performance than Navy aircraft. However, the Antares at that time was invincible, and even if the Army proposed a more high-performance aircraft, it was considered excessive. The conquest of Yggdra was on the countdown, and the political realm was more interested in how to achieve unification cost-effectively than in how to unify Yggra. And the Empire's aviation industry was dominated by the Carsline Company, making it difficult for the Army to oppose them.

As a result of military considerations based on accounting rather than military strategy, the Antares had an unnaturally long life. Now, the force deployed for Irnetia Island is paying the price for that decision with their lives.

There's no use dwelling on the past. Siegs shook off his regret and asked the next question.

"Do they have names?"

"Since they are verification machines, they don't have official names, but they have nicknames. The first unit is called Guti, and the second one is Maun."

Both are ancient Gra Valkan words, meaning "Homeland" and "Glory," respectively.

"Good names," Siegs commented and, guided by Trigger, boarded the Guti.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mykal, Mu

Today, a cargo ship from Japan arrived at the port. When Gra Valkan submarines began to appear, the quantity temporarily dropped, but currently, trade between Japan and Mu has returned to its original level. Gra Valkan submarines have stopped appearing since the success of the JMSDF's submarine hunting. Still, as a precaution, cargo ships form convoys and travel between Japan and Mu. However, among the port workers, there was someone sharp-eyed who noticed that the La Kasami Kai was among today's escorts.

However, as the unloading began, even those not particularly observant couldn't help but notice the difference.

"The heck is that?"