21. Evidence of Reality [Modern Warship in a Cultivation World]

“Sea Fowl: Permission to Fire! Aim for the tails!” Imogen commanded, her voice regaining its sharp authority. She allowed herself a bittersweet, grim smile as she continued, addressing the rebellious pilot directly: “You bastard are annoying, but I know you are capable of this. I trust your skill. Stay alive, and let’s bring back Ensign Carter.”

“Roger. Connecting Vulcan to the Eye Link System!” Lieutenant Sam replied with a stern, steady voice, the professional focus snapping back into place despite his profound grief. The cockpit monitor instantly changed to a free-cam manual aiming display. “Connection Established!”

Lieutenant Sam flew the Sea Fowl straight down toward the open seas, transferring control of the ventral machine gun to his personal controls. The two Gou Skysnake creatures, ridden by their Cultivators, followed right up behind him.

One of the riders began channeling his Qi into a bunch of darts, which started glowing with ominous blue light. The rider expertly maintained his firing position as the Gou Skysnake he rode steadily maintained speed, targeting the vulnerable aircraft.

“Propeller pitch variable, angle tilt eighty degrees,” Lieutenant Sam muttered. The Sea Fowl's rotor wing instantly and mechanically rotated and tilted sharply upwards. This maneuver caused the aircraft to slow down as if stopping in an instant, letting the two unsuspecting Gou Skysnakes pass it effortlessly.

“It… vanished?” the lead rider muttered, confused, searching for the Sea Fowl ahead and behind him. “Is it below? Trying to escape with a sudden descent?” He looked down, trying to find a shadow in the dark water.

“It’s not there!” the other rider yelled, doing the same.

That’s when a shadow fell over them, the deep red moonlight suddenly no longer reaching their backs. They jolted, looking up. The Sea Fowl was far behind them, high up in the sky, positioning its machine gun to target them from an impossible vantage point.

“This is for Carter!” Lieutenant Sam muttered, rage and grief fueling his focus. He keyed the mic. “Target locked! Fire!”

A ferocious rain of cannon rounds erupted, volley after volley impacting the trailing Gou Skysnake. Multiple shots slammed into the creature’s tail, immediately destabilizing it, and the beast yelped in sharp pain. “I can’t maintain balance!” the rider yelled to his partner as his Gou Skysnake started a rapid, unstable descent toward the dark ocean surface.

The second rider tried to save the falling comrade, maneuvering his own Gou Skysnake toward the descending beast. Without mercy, Lieutenant Sam fired again. “Take this!” He delivered a rapid burst at the second beast’s tail, executing a tight swing right next to the falling target. The second rider was baffled by how fast the “Beast and Raider” were able to attack again.

His Gou Skysnake yelled with the same intense pain and joined the detestable descent into the ocean as both creatures fell out of the sky at once, disappearing beneath the surface.

The Sea Fowl executed a swift U-Turn and climbed back out over the open ocean. Lieutenant Sam had the chance to fire at the floating, wounded Gou Skysnakes, which were still thrashing in pain on the surface with their riders trying to calm them but he didn’t. He had achieved his objective.

He soared high into the sky, the airframe vibrating slightly. “Let’s go back, Ensign Carter,” he murmured to the silent figure behind him as the Sea Fowl vanished into the night clouds.

“This is Sea Fowl… to CIC. Both targets have been successfully taken down.”

______

“Get the Medical Team to standby!” Imogen did not hesitate. announced, orders following in rapid succession. “Get the hangar ready for emergency treatment and personnel recovery!”

“Officer William, check their distance and prepare a recovery vector!” Imogen continued. “Officer Lee, look for any tails on the Sea Fowl once it’s within radar distance of the Event Horizon and be prepared to eliminate them!”

Her voice dropped, thick with rage and disappointment. “I need engineers and officers! We will be detaining Lieutenant Sam under martial law the moment he lands!” Every person in the Command Information Center scattered to carry out the critical orders.

In the midst of the chaos, Jessica clapped a hand over her mouth, letting out a stifled cry. She bolted out of the CIC, rushing through the corridor toward the fresh air of the deck.

Tears fell, unstoppable, as she reached the railing. Her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the deck, holding the cold metal rail, sobbing uncontrollably. The blood-red light of the triple moons did little to calm the surging sorrow of Carter's death.

Lu Mingfe, who had followed her silently, did nothing but stand a respectful distance away. He watched the expression of raw, unimaginable grief, a pain he understood all too well.

Pax stood by the CIC door, his expression hardening. He clinched his fists, struggling to maintain his own composure. He then walked up to Lu Mingfe, pulled a hand scarf from his pocket, and held it out, using simple gestures to convey his meaning. “Go… what are you debating about?” Though Lu Mingfe didn't understand the words, he instantly grasped the sentiment.

Lu Mingfe took the scarf and walked to Jessica, who was curled up on the floor. He squatted silently beside her and gently offered the cloth.

Seeing the quiet, genuine gesture, a bittersweet smile formed on Pax’s face. He turned and walked toward the airwing hangar for the Sea Fowl’s return. Officer Nolan was passing by, moving toward his own station. “Should I keep an eye on him?” he asked, nodding toward Lu Mingfe.

Pax shook his head. “It won’t be necessary. He’s where he needs to be.” As they walked the corridor side by side, he added, “Though tell him to keep her from coming to the Air Wing for the time being. She shouldn't see what's about to happen.”

Officer Nolan nodded in understanding, the terrible necessity of the coming court-martial and the recovery of Ensign Carter’s body taking precedence. Both men moved with grim determination toward the flight deck, ready to meet the defeated pilot and the heavy cost of his reckless courage.