Battle of Alta Second
| Battle of Alta Second | |
|---|---|
| Participants | Defiant Defense Force, Krell |
| World | Detritus |
| Universe | Skyward Universe |
The Battle of Alta Second occurs on the day of Skyward Flight's graduation.[1][2]
History
The Battle of Alta Second started in a small room in the Defiant Defense Force's Flight Command building, as Admiral Judy Ivans and her aide-de-camp Rikolfr informed National Assembly Leaders Algernon Weight, Valda Mendez, and Ukrit that a large chunk of falling debris, containing hundreds of acclivity rings, would be disarmed within two days. She and the National Assembly Leaders knew the hard truth - the DDF would continue to spiral towards collapse unless they could find a way to field more starfighters than the Krell. Knowing a better opportunity might not come while they had the strength they had, the National Assembly Leaders and the Admiral agreed to throw all DDF ships at capturing the acclivity rings.[3]
The battle began as soon as the DDF Flight School graduation was over, as the DDF quickly launched eleven full flights and five scouting trios, totaling eighty-seven pilots. The DDF also called in all of its reserves from the deep caverns. The pilots approached the shipyard and Ironsides asked the scouting trios for fighter estimates on the Krell. The scouting trios determined that a first wave of Krell contained fifty starfighters, while a second wave carried another fifty starfighters. Both sides understood the titanic consequences the battle would have.[1]
Ironsides ordered Riptide, Valkyrie, Tungsten, and Nightmare Flights to provide cover fire for the inside flights protecting the shipyard from a Krell bombing. One of the flightleaders reported a bomber, with a confirmation from three other ships. Scout Cloak gave a scouting confirmation, and Ironsides ordered the pilots to drive it away, at the risk of pushing it towards Alta Base, more than two hours away. One of the flightleaders told Ironsides that they had the lifebuster on the run, but that it was headed towards Alta. Cloak informed Ironsides that the bomber was faster than most, so Ironsides ordered the scouting contingents to move to intercept the lifebuster. The flightleader of Valkyrie flight told Ironsides they were down to three pilots and requested support, only for their line to go short. Another pilot told Ironsides that Valkyrie flight would be absorbed into their flight. Ironsides then ordered a full offensive to protect the shipyard, and all the flightleaders gave a verbal confirmation.[1]
Cloak told Ironsides that the bomber was moving extremely fast, had an escort of ten ships, and could easily get in blast range of Alta Base, so Ironsides ordered told her to engage it with just her flight of twelve scouts. Both the battle at the shipyard and around the bomber continued for some time, before Cloak finally reported that the bomber had been destroyed and that the lifebuster was falling to the ground and ordered all of the scouts to get clear before it exploded. It hit close enough to Alta Base that Spensa could hear the explosions from underground in Igneous Cavern; after it exploded, Ironsides congratulated Cloak, only to be told by FM that Cloak didn't make it out of the blast and that only three scouts survived. Ironsides then ordered the three survivors to return to the battle at the shipyard.[1]
Shortly thereafter, a woman from antiaircraft gun outpost fourth-seven reported that it, as well as outposts fourth-six and fourth-eight, had been hit by the lifebuster blast and destroyed. The gunner who gave the report then asked Ironsides if she had a nearby debris fall on her radar. The gunner took out a pair of binoculars and reported multiple Krell ships dropping through the debris field, right over where the destroyed antiaircraft gun outposts. The gunner told Ironsides to scramble the reserves, not knowing all the reserves were out fighting at the shipyard. Ironsides ordered Riptide Flight to return to Alta Base immediately, but their flightleader informed her that even at Mag-10 it would take over thirty minutes.[1]
Spensa defended the base in a damaged Poco by anticipating the movement of the Krell using her cytonic abilities, however, was eventually shot down. She managed to land her ship successfully, despite the damage it had taken. Cobb, piloting M-Bot, found Spensa and gave her control of the ship so she could rejoin the battle. When the Lifebuster dropped its bomb Spensa jumped it away to save Alta Base and Igneous Cavern.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]