Chapter 107 – Mother Road

Chapter 107 – Mother Road

United States Arizona, Flagstaff.

Avoiding the scorching sun of Arizona, located on the Colorado Plateau, a place covered with pine trees where it often snows in winter.

This beautiful small city, not far from the Grand Canyon, was a city traversed by one of the most important highways connecting the Western United States and the Eastern US.

It was also where Route 66, famously known as the ‘Mother Road,’ ran. In addition to that, trains also ran through it, which significantly contributed to the city’s importance.

As usual, sentries were on duty today, just like the Man.

“Hey, Thomas. Is the perimeter secure?”

“The Man, I guess God is watching over us, there are no Monsters today.”

Richard, who had confirmed the situation with Thomas, smiled at the Man’s answer.

“The Man, my rifle’s name is God too.”

Thomas, a devout Mormon from Salt Lake, frowned slightly at Richard’s joke about the Man.

“Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain—”

Richard didn’t seem to care about Thomas’s mood.

He interrupted the Man and pushed his own agenda.

“Anyway, wasn’t something supposed to pass by this time?”

“What do you mean?”

“The Contact Ship! The Contact Ship!”

Richard was looking forward to seeing William’s Contact Ship pass by. No matter how much the world had changed, people still found enjoyment in interesting things.

A Sailing Ship, and one as historically significant as a floating museum from the United States, flying through the sky was an unusual sight.

“I haven’t seen anything.”

Thomas shook his head at Richard’s words.

Richard seemed pleased by that.

“Glad I haven’t missed it yet.”

Just as he lowered his sunglasses and looked up at the high sky, he quickly noticed some small dots in the western sky beyond the horizon.

“Wow! Thomas, are you really on guard?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Look at the sky over there. Quite a number of flying objects. Are those Harpies?”

Thomas squinted for a moment, looked in the direction Richard was pointing, then his mouth dropped open and he shouted.

“Oh… thanks! I’ll report it right away!”

Just as he picked up his walkie-talkie and began to report, he spoke.

Crackle- static-

Through the walkie-talkie, a hearty laugh was heard.

“Calm down, Thomas. We’re already seeing it on radar. The Man says it’s the Contact Ship Fleet.”

Richard tilted his head.

“A fleet…?”

It was a reasonable reaction. He had already seen the Contact Ship once when it was heading to Incheon. Thanks to that, he knew the ship was flying alone.

He also knew the exact reason why.

Compared to Monsters, current Daejeon airplanes are not cost-effective. A billion-dollar plane can crash to the ground in an instant just because its wing is slightly scratched.

In contrast, William’s Contact Ship was different.

It was originally a sailing ship made of wood, which is easy to secure parts for, and William’s ability also provided a weak Mana Barrier.

Moreover, it wouldn’t immediately sink if the ship was damaged, and the direction of Firepower projection was much freer than an airplane… Perhaps, that’s why only William’s Ship was traveling the world.

But around William’s Contact Ship…

Numerous aircraft were floating.

But that wasn’t all. Richard looked at the approaching aircraft and couldn’t believe his own eyes.

Not only were several large Black Beetles flying, but also Round Orbs whose flight method was unknown, and two unidentified Battleships were attached.

It was truly an unimaginable sight. So, it was not surprising that Richard muttered to himself like this.

“Did they visit some Area 51 or something?”

At his words, Thomas laughed and shook his head.

“Richard, you say you’re an atheist, but you’re quick to believe in aliens.”

“I’ve seen too much.”

Richard grumbled at Thomas’s words. However, their gaze remained fixed on the sky.

It was when the ship was close enough to be clearly seen with the naked eye.

Static-

The walkie-talkie began to ring.

“All units, raise alert level. I repeat, raise alert level. Richard, stop bothering Thomas and return to the situation room immediately.”

“……?!”

Their expressions darkened. An elevated alert status was never a good sign.

They were guarding the highway connecting the Eastern US and Western United States, which was practically the frontline considering the monsters pushing in from the Central Western United States plains.

This land had also only recently been recovered.

Richard started running to the command center with a hurried expression, and Thomas sat in the seat of the anti-aircraft gun assigned to him.

And he—

“Oh… Our Father, who art in Paradise…”

He began to recite the Mormon prayer.

***

Meanwhile, a short while later, Flagstaff Command Center.

“Hoo, hoo… Wh-what’s going on?”

Richard asked urgently, without even catching his breath.

“Look at this.”

The officer controlling the situation room pointed to a screen.

It was a radar screen.

The screen was dotted with an incredible number of red points.

And each time the radar rotated again—

Beep—

The points were approaching faster and faster.

“My goodness…”

It was an enormous number of aerial monsters.

“With this many…”

“Exactly. We might have to abandon the base if we’re not careful.”

The officer nodded with a serious face.

This was the frontline.

With the enemy’s attacks growing fiercer, everyone was already worried that they might lose this place again someday.

Therefore, the retreat operation plan for troop preservation was already fully understood by even the lowest ranks of the base.

Richard shook his head, as if he didn’t want to believe it.

“If we lose this place again…”

“Yes, the Eastern US and Western United States could be cut off again if we’re not careful.”

Most of the United States’ population was concentrated along the Eastern US and Western United States coasts. They had different roles in the war against the Monsters.

With the introduction of Apoin and the front lines pushed back thanks to various information received from the Magitech Civilization, there was now a smooth exchange of goods and people via the Railway, but…

If these two were cut off again, it would undoubtedly be a very serious situation. Knowing this situation, Richard suggested to the Officer with venomous eyes.

“However we manage it, we will stop-“

Richard raised his voice.

But the Officer cut him off.

“Richard, don’t talk nonsense.”

“But-“

“Due to repeated battles recently, we’re almost out of bullets. This isn’t a situation where we can even think about fighting.”

“Then with our abilities-“

“Against that many? Are you crazy?”

“…”

“First, we must survive. Only by surviving can we fight again later.”

It was a rational judgment.

While the two were bickering like that, a voice spoke up.

“Excuse me… um, would you please listen to this for a moment? It’s a communication from the USS Constitution.”

“Alright. Take it immediately.”

The Officer controlling the situation room took the receiver.

Meanwhile, Richard briefly recalled their recent conversation.

Although he was currently under the Officer’s command, he was ultimately a former Militia Captain. Therefore, he had considerable say. That’s why he wanted to assert his loyalty, but it didn’t go as he wished.

“Is it going to end up like this again…?”

The Man clenched his fist.

The Man’s wife, originally from the Eastern US, was from the Western United States.

This meant that relatives from both sides were divided between the Eastern US and the Western United States. For The Man, who was once again on the verge of becoming a separated family, this was absolutely not someone else’s problem.

It was then that The Man, trembling, opened his mouth, intending to once again call for a fight to the death.

“Uh-“

But the Officer’s flustered voice echoed through the situation room.

“So… don’t waste bullets?”

“……”

“What do you mean, you’ll take care of everything?”

“……”

“Indeed, seeing is faster than explaining-“

It was then.

The two dots on the radar…

Beep-

They instantly began to split.

* * *

Thomas looked at the sky with an expression of disbelief.

“What in the world…”

From the two Aerial Motherships, numerous Interceptors were launching.

Clang- Clank-clank-clank-clank!

Numerous engine sounds pierced their ears.

Rumble! Roar!

And that was the moment The Interceptors encountered the Monster.

Hissing-

From the Interceptors, a bright light rose.

“Kweeeeeeeek!”

And then, countless monsters began to fall.

It happened in an instant.

“Oh my God…”

Thomas’s mouth was open and showed no sign of closing.

And then, a moment later.

The USS Constitution landed in Flagstaff.

And when all the aircraft had landed on the ground, there wasn’t a single red dot left on the radar.

* * *

“Is this currently the front line?”

William asked with a relaxed expression.

“Ah… yes. That’s right.”

“Then, where is the Logistics Warehouse?”

It was when Richard pointed to a drab building.

“Ah, there won’t be enough space…”

William made a troubled expression.

“Let’s just fill it as it goes in. Worker Bug, transfer the supplies!”

“Ding!!”

Afterward, Richard, who was watching the Logistics Warehouse fill up quickly, was astonished by the endless amount of ammunition coming out.

“Oh, no… Is it really okay to give this much?”

“We have been given the authority to distribute supplies autonomously. You’re going to need this much, aren’t you?”

“Even so, you should give some to other places too-“

“Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”

William grinned.

“We have enough ammunition.”

It was a sentence rarely heard these days.

***

William soon set sail again.

There were many places besides Flagstaff that needed ammunition. There was no time to delay here.

The unique North Korean Army’s weapon system was often incompatible with the United States’ system. So, usually, not only ammunition but also weapons were handed over, and a Worker Bug was left behind to handle maintenance.

Furthermore, countless explanations on how to use the Worker Bug had to be added, which was taking considerable time.

In particular, the most dangerous part of it was the North America front, which had branched off from the Giant Nest.

‘I need to return to the Capital City as soon as possible…’

As he made his ship ascend into the sky, the blood-soaked ground came into his view.

Unlike the Pacific Ocean where he had fought until now, this scene was visible because the corpses of Aerial Monsters fell to the ground.

He shook his head, looking at the mountain of corpses.

“Anyway, this much with just two Aerial Motherships…”

Thanks to Siwoo’s consideration, there was even an Emitter attached in case the defenses were breached. But it was very rare to have to use the Emitter.

Because the defenses weren’t breached in the first place.

For air-to-air combat only, an Aerial Mothership was sufficient.

William felt a little afraid.

“But these two ships… you said they were just a small part…”

It wasn’t just that.

Through Information Operations, William knew that even larger Giant Warships were being built than the Aerial Mothership.

And, according to the [Daily Apoin Trends] report produced daily by the Pentagon, not long after William left…

…the construction of the Giant Warship was reportedly completed.

“And it wasn’t just one ship, but two different types…”

William wished there were photos, or even videos, but unfortunately, due to the information control imposed by Apoin, he couldn’t obtain any photos.

He could only get information that something large had risen into the sky.

“If it’s a fleet made up of ships of that size… what on earth is even possible?”

William couldn’t imagine it.

***

Meanwhile, at the same time in Incheon.

From the restroom of the Assault Landing Ship, sailing alongside the Photon Destroyer, Seongjae’s excited voice was heard.

“Whoa! This!”

“Why?”

It was when I turned my head to Seongjae.

“There’s a bidet installed?!”

It seemed I had chosen a good interior designer after all.