Saga of Tanya the Evil

However, at the moment she was feeling lucky, Tanya's signal with Norden Control tower was full of interference.

He was reporting on the sudden change in situation just a moment ago. The radio signal was making static at such a critical juncture.

Considering the signals breaking up before that, there was a high chance the signal set was malfunctioning.

Be it directing artillery fire or receiving updates from friendly forces, the radio set would be very important and this would likely be a malfunction with serious consequences.

From what Tanya remembered, the signal set she was using was used extensively by her in all sorts of exercises. It was known for its ruggedness and shouldn't be that fragile.

Maybe the problem only arise because it was a real battle, but not only would she be unable to report back on artillery fire, she would also be unable to complete her mission due to the mechanical error, which was unsettling. In the end, Tanya hadn't the mood to be frustrated over her signal set glitching.

…A heat signature?— Tanya noticing that she was being sniped was pure coincidence. However, she trusted her instincts, changed her flight course and barely avoided the attack.

Right after that, she saw numerous spells exploding in her original path. It was an enemy Mage.

"Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Fairy08 to Norden Control! I say again, Fairy08 to Norden Control! Enemy contact, requesting immediate support!"

The interference was caused by the enemy, not the signal set acting up. To counter this, Tanya increased radio wave output to maximum and started yelling.

Amongst the remaining enemy forces, their Mages were the biggest threat. In terms of Mages, the Federation was late to adopt their use and had a limited number of them. However, to make up for this weakness, they focused on strengthening their quality.

They were able to achieve this because of the backing of countries that opposed the Empire. Afterall, "the enemy of my enemy is my friend."

Tanya and the Empire's Mages let down their guard for this battle because the enemy Mage units were supposedly reorganizing in the rear lines.

According to intelligence reports, the enemy elite Mages were rushing to Eliance that was further to the north. This led to the strategic miscalculation, assuming that enemy Mages were not present.

This counterattack caught the Empire off guard. No matter what, an enemy force that required the immediate notification of the command post appeared before Tanya. This was of grave importance, tactically and politically.

Naturally, she reported in as per standard procedure, but she had no plans of fighting the enemy alone like a hero. Let those seeking death die, living on is the most important thing. The issue was how she could escape this crisis.

"Detected enemy Mage units, squadron size, approaching fast."

Tanya prepared for aerial battle as she shouted at the signal set, her eyes capturing multiple figures flying at high speed. Disgustingly many of them.

"Coordinates, AO Alpha, zone 8, altitude 4300!"

She didn't know about the enemy's troubles or political motives, but they were full of fighting spirit. The way they were refusing to give in despite their forces' imminent defeat as they charged ahead while screaming intensely was troubling. Being diligent enemy soldiers, they probably wasn't bothered about causing trouble for us.

On the grand scale of things the Empire was still gradually winning. It was a war they would certainly win. And that was why the situation was dire. While the Empire was in the process of winning a total victory, if her unit was to be defeated, they would be the only blemish in this battle.

"The only ones to suffer a loss while everyone else wins."

Tanya was afraid that this would leave a irrefutable taint on her records— She was afraid of being treated like an incompetent person unable to complete her task.

If the possibility existed, the situation before her was frightening. She didn't have the right to refuse if her superiors ordered her to engage.

She focused on reactive, evasive actions. Her smaller body could lessen the g-force slightly, but if she needed to dodge all the spells coming at her from all directions simultaneously, the burden would rise to another level.

From the amount of shots coming at her, it was at least one flight? No, it might be an elite detachment. Going by tactical theory, they were trying to restrain Tanya's movement and then attack her. The objective of the enemy being tying up Tanya was obvious.

Their main strategic target was definitely her allied artillery batteries that were without air cover. The enemy squadron aimed to break through the defences and ravage the Empire's support fire unit.

Considering the strategic gains and risk involved, it was a profitable move. It was bad news no matter how Tanya sliced it.

It wouldn't be so bad if the Empire was using mobile artillery, but most of the batteries needed to be towed.

Even for the Empire, the burden of forming the armoured divisions, Mage units and air force was heavy, and it would be too much to convert completely into mobile artillery.

For the slow and heavy towed artillery, the time for them to run or hide was too despairingly short.

They would need units to cover them directly, but to stop the attack of a Mage squadron, it would require a squadron of their own. Simply put, Tanya needed to stall for time before the cover unit arrives.

"Engaging!"

"Norden Control to Fairy08! Report the situation!"

Fortunately, our side started counter electronic warfare measures and communications returned to normal. But look, they came as expected. My instinct for detecting trouble is a hundred percent accurate.

Is the intuition of a woman so accurate? Outward appearance aside, I have no plans of being a woman. What is this annoying feeling?

"This is Fairy08, engaging enemy. I say again, engaging enemy. Enemy squadron is infiltrating my airspace."

"Norden Control roger. Proceed to engage and begin stalling tactics. Gather as much intelligence as possible."

Ah, what did I say? This is the worst. Engage and collect intelligence? No, I have to stall the enemy before that? Harrass an entire squadron alone? In the open sky without any cover? If you are sending me to die, just tell me straight.

"Enemy forces greatly outnumber me, requesting reinforcements."

"Norden Control acknowledged. Allied Mage flight has been scrambled. Airborne security squadron is also on your way, ETA (estimated time of arrival) 600 seconds."

What did you say? That they'll will take ten minutes? That's enough time to warm up a quick meal, finish it, and dispose of the garbage. Come on, it's impossible for me to stall them for ten minutes.

The most important thing is my life, and the only option is to run away. This is natural; I am not patriotic enough to fight a grand solo battle.

But to avoid being branded as someone who flees before the enemy, I need a proper reason to do so. I will need a superior to judge that there is no strategic value in this airspace and order me to retreat.

"Fairy08 to Norden Control. Requesting permission to disengage immediately. I say again, requesting permission to disengage immediately."

"Norden Control to Fairy08. Regrettably, permission denied. Please stall for time before friendly quick-reaction forces arrive on-site."

Ah— damn jerk. Please serve divine retribution to the pogue who doomed me with his orders! I really want to shout in his face— "Why not trade places with me? If you want to give unreasonable commands, then demonstrate for me to see."

"Fairy08 to Norden control. Please advise the situation of allied artillery unit."

Complaints aside, I am still an adult. I understand the consequences if I act out because of my body's physical age. It's not too late to take revenge after I make it big. In order to take revenge in the future, I need to handle the present situation perfectly.

"Mage Tanya Degurechaff will do her duty even in the most dire of situations"— getting such a review is the only way to get out of this.

Even if they court-martial me as a scapegoat, I can argue that I was aware of the danger by asking about the condition of the artillery behind me, and was doing all I could to resolve the crisis. I need to prepare my insurance first.

"A flight of airborne security is coming to cover the artillery, ETA 300 seconds. The seventh roving squadron is also coming to assist. As reported earlier, their ETA is 600 seconds."

Ah, I see that this is the worst-case scenario. Please serve divine retribution to the jerk that caused this to happen!

Why are the enemy Mages heading for the artillery in the lines behind me instead of anywhere else? What is the frontline unit in charge of early warnings doing?

Why didn't they detect a squadron pushing this deep into our territory? If they let their guard down because victory was assured, and shoved the responsibility onto me, how can I take it? If they want to attack the artillery, isn't it fine to attack the zone next door? I won't mind that at all. But why me?

That damn devil. Is he still cursing me? Great, I say. If this is the case, I'll go all out too. Everyone wants me dead? I won't go down alone. I've made up my mind.

I will pull everyone down with me. Instead of dying alone, it's better to make it huge and drag everyone alongside me. I won't be able to bear it otherwise.

"Fairy08, roger. Norden Control, I will make it out alive, witness me!"

"Norden Control, acknowledged. Good luck."