Upon arriving at his post today, Lübeck found everyone busy at work. It turned out the operations command center had an assignment, but since it was a low-level operation, he hadn't been notified.
今天到达工作岗位,吕贝克发现人们很忙碌,原来作战指挥室有任务,只是行动级别低,没有通知他.
Lübeck received the briefing: the resource transport convoy had come under attack by Spider BM Charle, a Martian spider—black, medium-sized, with sharp teeth and scythe-like forelimbs, moving with remarkable agility.
吕贝克听取了简报,是资源运输车队遇到袭击,Spider BM Charle, 一种火星蜘蛛,黑色中等体型,有着锋利的牙齿和镰刀一样的前肢,行动敏捷.
Lübeck sat down, surveying the battlefield situation while picking up a headset to tune into the combat communication channel for real-time updates. The ground armored vehicle rescue convoy had already departed to provide support, and the medical rescue team's 20-minute readiness countdown was already halfway through. He checked the roster and saw Brittany's name listed prominently, causing him to feel a pang of concern for her.
吕贝克坐下一边查看战场态势一边拿起一个耳机,接入作战通话频道了解即时信息.地面的装甲车辆救援车队已经出发接应,医疗救援分队20分钟准备倒计时已经过了一半,他查了一下成员名单,看到布列塔尼赫然在目,不由得有些为她担心.
The air cover was returning to base. Lübeck calculated the timing of each wave and realized there would be a period where ground forces were left without aerial protection. The relayed footage showed members of the attacked convoy adopting a restrained defensive posture to avoid triggering a large-scale spider swarm assault, but casualties had already been incurred.
空中掩护正在返航,吕贝克核算了一下各波次的时间,发现有一段空当地面部队处于没有空中掩护的情况.从回传视频可以看到遇袭车队成员采取了尽量克制的防御的姿态,避免激发蜘蛛群的大规模围攻,但是已经有人受伤了.
"Do we have an air cover gap?" Lübeck asked the operations officer.
"我们有一个空中掩护空窗期?"吕贝克向作战参谋询问,
"Yes, we have no more fighter pilots left at our base. They've all been deployed,"
Lübeck said after checking the base's remaining resources.
"是的,我们基地没有更多飞攻击机的飞行员了,他们都已经被派出去了,"
吕贝克查看了一下基地剩余资源说,
Arrange a Hell Messenger attack aircraft for me. Load four MK-77 incendiary bombs, with the remainder of the payload consisting of unguided rockets. Fuel for 45 minutes of loiter time. Thirty minutes for takeoff preparation. Confirm?
"给我安排一架地狱使者攻击机,4枚MK-77燃烧弹,其余载荷挂载无制导火箭弹,45分钟滞空时间燃料,30分钟起飞准备,确认?"
The system operator stared wide-eyed as Lübeck blindly input the commands. Being young, he naturally had no idea what kind of attack aircraft Lübeck had flown before. After finishing the input, he looked toward the operations officer, who gave him a gesture command to proceed.
系统操作员瞪大眼睛看着吕贝克盲操输入指令,年轻的他当然不知道吕贝克之前飞过那种攻击机,输入完毕又望向作战参谋,对方给了他一个执行的手势指令.
Lübeck saw the relevant commands loaded into the system execution sequence and immediately headed for the base hangar. The base's rail transit system was convenient, but he first needed to collect his flight suit and activate the command to enter the hangar. Ground crew were refueling, mounting weapons, and loading ammunition.
吕贝克看到相关指令加载到了系统执行序列,马上起身前往基地机库,很方便的基地内轨道交通,但是他需要首先领取他的飞行服,然后激活指令进入机库.地勤人员正在加注燃料挂载武器装填弹药.
The Hell Messenger attack aircraft is an ugly bird, designed specifically for close-range air support on the Martian surface. Its fuselage lacks any streamlined shape, as the thin Martian atmosphere renders aerodynamics unnecessary. Its stubby wings generate virtually no lift, serving solely as weapon pylons. Flight relies entirely on four liquid oxygen/methane rocket engines. Unlike aircraft operating in Earth's atmosphere, its handling resembles a large quadcopter—except lift comes from rocket thrust instead of rotors. To accommodate two massive spherical fuel tanks, its nose and forward fuselage appear thick and clumsy. The slender rear fuselage exists solely to provide attitude control torque. Pilots affectionately call it the "pipe."
地狱使者攻击机是一架很丑的飞机,专为火星表面近距离空中支援设计,没有流线型的机身,因为火星的大气稀薄,不需要空气动力学.它那一对短翼根本无法产生升力,只是用作武器挂架.它能飞完全是依靠四台液氧甲烷喷射引擎的动力,与在地球大气层中的飞行器完全不同,它的操控更像一台大尺寸的四轴旋翼机,只不过升力不是来自于旋翼,而是火箭发动机.为了适配两个硕大的球形燃料舱,它的机头和前机身显得很粗大笨拙,那细长的后机身只不过是为了提供姿态操控力矩,飞行员们都喜欢叫它"烟斗".
Lübeck climbed into the cockpit, fastened his seatbelt, activated the aircraft's electrical systems, and connected the combat data link. While monitoring the battlefield situation and awaiting the completion of the equipment self-check, he waited for the fueling process to finish.
吕贝克坐进驾驶室,系好安全带,启动飞机电气系统,连接作战数据链,一边查看战场态势,等待设备自检,一边等待燃料加注完成.
Ground crew efficiently completed their tasks ahead of schedule: personnel evacuated, pressure equalized, then the hangar doors opened. The aircraft was rolled out onto the base's top landing pad. After cross-checking information with the control tower, all four rocket engines ignited with deafening roar—the shockwave reverberated through the cockpit walls. Lübeck piloted his Hell Messenger into vertical takeoff, then banked sharply toward the pre-programmed flight path.
地勤人员很好地提前完成了他们的工作,人员撤离,平衡气压,然后机库大门打开,飞机被送到基地顶部起降平台,与塔台核对信息后,启动四台火箭引擎,噪音巨大,气浪冲击得驾驶舱壁都在颤抖.吕贝克操纵他的地狱使者垂直起飞,然后转向,飞向预设航线.
Before long, Lübeck spotted a column of armored vehicles advancing on the ground. Moving further along the road ahead, he caught up with the medical evacuation aircraft that had departed earlier—Brittany should be aboard. Lübeck quickly overtook them and entered the combat zone, as he needed to clear a safe landing zone for the medical personnel in advance.
没多久吕贝克就看到了地面上行进的装甲车纵队,沿着道路上空再向前,又追上了之前出发的医疗救援机,布列塔尼应该就在这上面.吕贝克很快超越了他们进入战区,因为他需要提前为医疗人员清理出安全的着陆区.
From a distance, Lübeck observed the convoy forming a defensive perimeter. Swarms of Martian spiders crawled across the ground—their reason for this massive migration remained unclear, though their distribution was relatively sparse. Snipers aboard the vehicles fired short bursts to halt the advancing larger spiders. Judging by their sparse ammunition, they were likely rationing their fire. Scattered across the terrain were bomb craters, remnants of the previous two waves of airstrikes.
远远地吕贝克看到车队已经围成了防御阵型,成群的火星蜘蛛在地面移动,不知道为什么它们要大规模迁徙,分布还算稀疏,车上的射手在用短点射阻止靠近的大蜘蛛,估计他们的弹药也不多了,只能节约使用.地面上远近到处是航弹坑,应该是前两波次空袭留下的.
After a close observation of the situation, Lübeck made a low-altitude, high-speed pass and dropped two incendiary bombs in succession. The delayed-detonation flames rolled and burned between the ground and the aircraft, tracing the plane's flight path and drawing long fiery dragons across the earth. Lübeck then turned back to drop two more. The four incendiary bombs formed a perfect V-shape on the ground, pointing toward the spiders' direction of approach. The searing flames blocked the convoy behind them. The aircraft then pointed its nose toward the ground convoy and began a centripetal spin maneuver, using Hydra rockets and the M61 Vulcan cannon to eliminate the final threats.
抵近观察了情况,吕贝克低空高速通场依次投下两枚燃烧弹,延迟引爆的烈焰,在地面与机身之间翻滚燃烧,追寻着飞机的飞行的轨迹,在地上划出长长的火龙.吕贝克然后折返再投两枚,四枚燃烧弹正好在地面上形成了一个字母V字形,指向蜘蛛们来袭方向,用炙热的火焰把车队挡在了后面,然后把机头指向地面车队开始做向心旋转机动,用九头蛇火箭弹和M61火神机炮清除最后的威胁.
Soon the medical evacuation aircraft arrived, picked up the wounded, and began returning to base. Lübeck hovered for a while longer, then, seeing the armored convoy approaching, prioritized his target, emptied his rocket pods, and commenced his return flight.
不久医疗救援机到达,接上伤员开始返航,吕贝克又滞空了一段时间,见接应装甲车队即将到达,便选择优先目标,清空火箭弹然后开始返航.
Having not piloted this model in ages, Lübeck finally let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, flights on Mars didn't require any high-G maneuvers, and his physical condition could still handle it. Soon after, he caught up with the medical rescue craft. With ample fuel, he slowed down and began flying alongside it at a steady pace.
很久没驾驶这种机型的吕贝克这时才长舒一口气,好在火星上的飞行也不需要做什么大过载机动,自己的身体状况还能应对.没多久他又赶上了医疗救援机,燃料充足,便减慢速度慢慢伴飞,
Lübeck chose to fly in the direction of sunlight hitting the medical rescue aircraft, enabling him to observe the personnel inside the aircraft more clearly through the porthole.
吕贝克选择了在医疗救援机阳光入射方位飞行,这样他就能够更清楚地透过舷窗,观察医疗救援机里面的人员,
As the distance closed, the scene beyond the portholes grew clearer. Just beyond one window, Lübeck spotted that familiar figure. But Brittany wasn't on the combat hail channel. So Lübeck activated his navigation lights and formation lights, the red lights on the Hell Messenger's left wing flashing, illuminating the interior and exterior of the medical evacuation aircraft. Brittany lifted her head to look out the porthole. The red strobe light illuminated her face. Her mouth fell open, then her hands gripped the window frame as she stared wide-eyed toward him. Finally, she began waving frantically. She was thrilled to see Lübeck this way.
随着距离的靠近,那边舷窗里的情况看的越来越清楚了,就在一个窗口之后,吕贝克看到了那个熟悉的身影.但是布列塔尼不在作战通话频道上,于是吕贝克高亮开启了自己的航行灯和编队灯,地狱使者左翼的红灯闪烁,照亮了医疗救援机的机舱内外,布列塔尼抬起头望向舷窗外,红色频闪灯光照亮她的面容,只见她开始是张大了嘴,然后双手也扶在了舷窗上,瞪大眼睛望向这边,最后开始拼命挥舞双手,她很开心会以这种方式见到吕贝克.
They returned to base one after another, but Brittany couldn't wait for Lübeck to see her—she needed to continue treating the wounded. Lübeck returned to the operations command center, saw that the situation had stabilized, and clocked out on time. After having dinner in the mess hall, he brought a portion back for Brittany and returned to his room to wait for her return.
先后回到基地,但是布列塔尼并不能等待吕贝克见上一面,她需要去继续处理伤员.吕贝克回到作战指挥室,看到形势已经稳定,就按时下班了,到餐厅吃过晚饭,然后给布列塔尼带了一份,便回到房间等待她回来.
Waiting always leaves one feeling lost and restless. The time I usually spend reviewing materials seems destined to be wasted today. Turning off the lights, I gaze out the window at the starry sky—vast and endless, yet utterly uninspiring. Better to take a shower first. Turning on the shower, the warm water and the dim yellow light stir memories of Brittany once more.
等待总是让人怅然若失,平时看资料的时间今天似乎也只能荒废了,关了灯仰望窗外的星空,星希浩渺,索然无味.不如先去洗澡,打开淋浴,那温暖的水流,昏黄的灯光,又是勾起与布列塔尼的回忆.
Have I truly fallen for her? Or is this merely a fleeting infatuation? Lübeck couldn't help but question his own heart—he seemed to be growing increasingly sentimental.
我是真的爱上她了?还是短暂的欢愉之兴?吕贝克不由得叩问自己的内心,自己似乎变得越来越感性了.
The warm water from the showerhead washed over Lübeck's body, pattering onto the floor. With his eyes closed, he savored the warmth in the dim light while listening to the gentle murmur of dripping water.
淋浴喷头的水流温暖地冲刷着吕贝克的身体,也噼噼啪啪地打落在地面,他闭着眼睛,一边享受这昏黄中的温暖,一边聆听滴水的沉吟,
At that moment, there was a faint sound of a door opening.
这时隐约有开门声,
Lübeck, Lübeck, where are you? The voice grew louder as it drew nearer.
"吕贝克,吕贝克你在哪?"声音由远而近,
Lübeck opened his eyes. It was Brittany, the one he'd been waiting for, returning. Guided by the bathroom light, she entered wearing her uniform, wrapped her arms around his neck, and looked up at him, asking,
"Was that you flying the escort plane for us today?"
吕贝克睁开眼睛,正是他等候的布列塔尼回来了,循着浴室的灯光,她穿着那身制服就开门进了浴室,搂着吕贝克的脖子望着他问,
"今天我看到的是你在开飞机护送我们?"
"Yes," Lübeck smiled. On any other day, he would have remarked, "Your clothes are soaked," but today he didn't. Instead, he simply held Brittany close around the waist, watching as the water darkened her shoulders, saw her damp hair cling to her temples, and observed the shower's flow trace her cheeks, winding into a thin stream before turning to trail down her neck and slip into her collar.
"是的,"吕贝克笑了,如果是平时,他一定会说,你的衣服都湿了,但是今天他没有,只是搂着布列塔尼的腰,看着她的肩头被水打湿,变成深色,看着她的发丝被水润湿低垂贴在额角,看着淋浴的水流过她的脸颊,蜿蜒凝聚成细流又转向贴着她的脖颈流进她的领口,
All he wanted now was to see Brittany standing before him.
现在的他只想看着布列塔尼站在自己的面前.