Lig sat inside the Mission Control Jet, surrounded by glowing tactical screens and the low, constant hum of the aircraft's systems. Outside the reinforced windows, the air base remained in a state of controlled chaos.
He leaned forward slightly, his eyes fixed on the main tactical display.
"Show me the status of our men."
His voice was calm.
Then, after a brief pause, he added,
"And how much have we lost?"
The communication panel flickered.
MC 0989
"Yes, Sir."
A second later, the main screen changed.
Nemo / Agent N
"On your screen, Captain."
Lig activated the display.
A tactical map appeared before him, showing the positions of their remaining forces and the losses suffered during the engagement.
His expression hardened.
Four aircraft had been lost.
Four.
For a few seconds, Lig said nothing.
The enemy forces were now trapped in a tight position, their movements becoming increasingly restricted.
From across the control section, Mizuki, also known as Deathcat, stepped closer.
Mizuki / Deathcat
"Sir, I think this is a good time to strike back."
Lig slowly turned towards her.
Lig / Captain, AOB
"Agent N?"
There was a brief pause before Nemo responded.
Nemo / Agent N
"I think Deathcat is right, Cap."
Lig looked back towards the tactical display.
The opportunity was there.
But an opportunity on a battlefield could disappear in seconds.
Lig / Captain
"MC 4590."
The communications channel opened.
MC 4590
"Yes, Cap?"
"Can we do it now?"
There was a short silence as the operator checked the latest battlefield data.
Then his voice came through.
MC 4590
"Yes, Cap. We have secured Sector 777."
A tactical marker on the screen changed position.
"We can move forward now. Their air defence has been severely weakened."
Another voice joined the channel.
MCA 234
"Yes, Cap. According to our analysis, their defence capability has dropped by approximately sixty-five per cent."
The tactical screen updated again.
"And based on the current analysis and probability calculations, our forces have a significant chance of causing heavy damage to their base."
Lig remained silent for a moment.
Then he gave his next order.
Lig / Captain
"I want the Team Leader online."
MC 234
"Yes, Cap. He is online."
A new communication window appeared.
Team Leader
"Yes, Cap."
Lig looked at the tactical map one final time.
"Can we strike?"
The Team Leader answered without hesitation.
Team Leader
"Yes, Sir. We can. Our twenty craft are ready to move."
Lig nodded slowly.
"Alright."
His voice became firm.
"I want you and four crafts to strike their base."
He paused.
"And Team Leader Two, take another four and attack their base with the heavy weapons."
Lig glanced at the remaining units displayed on the screen.
"The rest will remain on standby as backup."
For a moment, the communication channel was silent.
Then both Team Leaders responded almost simultaneously.
Team Leaders
"Roger that, Cap. We are on the move."
"Cap."
MCA 234's voice came through the communication system.
"Analysis on it."
Lig remained still for a moment, his eyes fixed on the tactical display.
MCA 234 quickly processed the available data.
"Sir, according to our analysis, we have approximately a sixty-five per cent chance of winning."
Lig opened his mouth to respond.
"As I think—"
Before he could finish, Lig interrupted.
"We have less time. One answer. Yes or no."
His voice became sharper.
"We have only a few seconds before they enter enemy territory. Every second we waste increases the risk to our men. They are already putting their lives on the line."
There was a brief silence.
MCA 234 understood.
"Sorry, Cap."
A pause.
"Yes. We should proceed."
Lig immediately gave the order.
"Proceed. Two hours before dawn. Fast."
The atmosphere inside the jet changed instantly.
"Turn off all lights of our jet."
A few seconds passed.
"All ships in Shadow Mode."
One after another, the systems responded.
An AI voice calmly announced:
"Ship entering Shadow Mode."
Lig continued without hesitation.
"Set Invincible Shadow Mode to forty-five per cent. That is enough for now. It's night."
He looked towards the tactical display.
"And defence guns at eighty per cent."
Another pause.
"Give more power to those guns."
MC 567 responded from the control station.
"Cap, done."
"All set."
A new message appeared across the tactical screen.
ENEMY TERRITORY ENTERED.
MC 567 spoke again.
"We have entered enemy territory."
Lig's eyes remained fixed on the display.
"I need a height of sixty-five thousand feet."
Agent N immediately responded.
"Processing started."
The jet continued forward through the darkness, its lights completely shut down as the entire formation disappeared into Shadow Mode.
Lig remained focused on the tactical display.
"Start the timer."
His voice was firm, but the urgency behind it was impossible to miss.
"We need to move fast. Every second counts. Every second could mean the difference between bringing our men back alive and losing them."
Agent N immediately responded.
"Done."
A countdown appeared on the main display.
Lig narrowed his eyes.
"Time left?"
Deathcat checked the timer.
"1:58.90."
She looked towards Lig.
"Cap."
Lig did not look away from the screen.
"Leaders. Fast."
A few seconds later, Team Leader Two's voice came through the communication system.
"Strike missile launched."
A brief pause.
"Strike in one minute."
Lig gave a short nod.
"Good. Team Two."
Then he turned towards Agent N.
"I want a live view."
Agent N immediately responded.
"Cap, it's on your display."
The moment the live feed appeared, the entire jet fell silent.
No one spoke.
The only sound was the quiet hum of the aircraft systems and the faint electronic beeping of the countdown.
01:42...
The display slowly brightened.
Darkness gave way to the live battlefield feed from Team Two.
Then—
A sudden flash.
The screen shook.
For one brief moment, nobody moved.
Then a voice exploded through the communication channel.
Team Two, Jet 2:
"Yes! It hit!"
Another voice followed.
Jet 1:
"Yeahhhhh!"
Team Leader Two could barely contain his excitement.
"Yes, guys! We did it!"
For a few seconds, the tension inside the jet broke.
Relief spread through the crew.
But Lig kept watching the timer.
01:31...
Something about the situation still felt wrong.
Suddenly, MC 234 stood up.
His eyes were fixed on the communication panel.
"Team Two, Jet 4. Come in."
Silence.
He waited.
"Team Two, Jet 4, I repeat. Come in."
Nothing.
The countdown continued.
01:24...
MC 234 tried again, louder this time.
"Come in, Jet 4!"
Still nothing.
The excitement disappeared from the room.
MC 234 slowly turned towards Lig.
"Cap..."
His voice had changed.
"We lost contact with Jet 4."
Lig's expression hardened.
For a moment, he said nothing.
The timer kept running.
01:18...
Lig finally spoke.
"Abort."
Team Leader Two immediately responded.
"Roger that, Cap."
Lig's voice became sharper.
"Abort. Abort!"
Team Leader Two repeated the order to his team.
"Everyone, abort! Abort!"
But nobody inside Lig's jet looked relieved.
The timer was still counting down.
And Jet 4 was still silent.
01:11...
Lig stared at the live display.
"Where is Jet 4?"
No answer came.
Only the countdown.
01:10...
01:09...
01:08...
And somewhere inside enemy territory, one of their jets was no longer answering.
MCA 234 suddenly spoke.
"Cap... they need more time."
Lig turned towards him.
"Why?"
The timer continued to fall.
01:05
MCA 234 quickly checked the drone feed.
"Sorry, Sir. According to the drone..."
He looked at the tactical display.
"They have left their base at X233."
A pause.
"They're moving back towards Quarter QX233."
Lig's eyes narrowed.
"QX233?"
MCA 234 nodded.
"It's inside their city."
Lig looked at the countdown.
01:02
"And...?"
MCA 234 hesitated.
"Cap..."
He took a breath.
"Win probability is ninety-seven per cent."
Another pause.
"But the probability of losing our men is ninety per cent."
"Sorry, Cap."
Lig turned towards him.
"You don't have to say sorry to me."
His voice was calm, but there was weight behind every word.
"If anything happens to Team One, you will say that sorry to their families."
Lig immediately turned towards the communication panel.
"Team Leader One. Report!"
"Yes, Cap."
"Permission to proceed."
Team Leader One responded immediately.
"Understood, Cap."
A second timer appeared on the tactical display.
01:00
The first countdown was now running alongside the mission clock.
00:59
00:58
00:57
Lig watched the numbers fall.
There was no room left for hesitation.
00:30
The seconds disappeared one after another.
00:20
00:19
00:18
00:17
00:16
00:15
Lig's eyes remained fixed on the display.
The cabin went completely silent.
The only thing moving now was the timer.
00:13
Lig stared at the number.
"Is this trade worthy?"
Nobody answered.
"Are we ready for it?"
He looked towards Agent N.
Agent N finally responded.
"Yes, Cap."
A brief pause.
"It's carrying REX80."
00:11
00:10
The countdown continued.
00:09
00:08
00:07
00:06
Team Leader One's voice suddenly came through the communication system.
"Jet Two, lock the target."
A brief pause.
"Jet Three, drop the first missile."
His voice remained controlled.
"Good job, guys."
00:05
00:04
"Main missile on its way."
00:03
00:02
00:01
00:00
For one heartbeat, there was nothing.
Then—
Team Leader One's voice came through.
"It hit the target."
The main display suddenly erupted into brilliant white light.
Lig immediately raised his hand.
"Lower the brightness."
MC 256 responded.
"Cap, it's already at the lowest setting. Forty-five per cent."
The entire cabin was still flooded with white light.
Slowly, the brightness began to fade.
The outlines of the crew returned one by one.
No one spoke.
The timer had reached:
00:00
The mission was over.
But the silence inside the jet made it feel like something had only just begun.
Cap
"First returned"
First counter appeared on display.
00:58
Team Leader 1
"All jets on it way back"
Cap
"Great turn this Mission Control Jet fast"
MC 245
"Process started"
At the Base
The moment Lig entered the command area, he noticed the tension in the room.
He looked towards the team leader.
"How did it happen?"
He paused.
"Mr. Team Leader."
The Team Leader stood straight.
"I swear, Sir... I had the RQ20."
Nemo looked at him sharply.
"Then how did this happen?"
She stepped closer.
"Without the REX80, that's not even possible."
Lig remained silent for a moment.
His eyes moved between the two of them.
"Alright."
His voice was calm.
"Team Leader, you can go now."
The Team Leader hesitated before giving a quick nod and leaving.
Mizuki watched him disappear through the doorway.
Then she turned towards Lig.
"Then how did it happen?"
Lig looked at her.
His expression gave nothing away.
"You both go and check Jet 4."
Nemo frowned.
"Both of us?"
"Yes."
Mizuki nodded.
"Come on."
She turned and walked away.
Nemo followed her, but before leaving, she glanced back at Lig.
He was already looking at his phone.
Lig unlocked the screen.
A new message was waiting.
Yo bro, wanna meet at Coffee Coffee?
Lig stared at it for a moment before replying.
Yeah. And I need a favour.
The reply came almost immediately.
Anything.
Lig paused.
His fingers hovered over the keyboard.
Then he typed:
But it's dangerous.
A few seconds passed.
Then another message appeared.
Anything for bro.
Lig slowly lowered the phone.
He said nothing.
Neither did the other person.
There was no need to.
Narrator
"Who is responsible for the loss?"
"Was it really necessary?"
"How did something impossible become possible?"
"And who..."
"...is this mysterious person?"
"The one casually calling Lig..."
'Bro.'
"Perhaps..."
"...the answer is closer than anyone thinks."