Alisha and her squadron entered the atmosphere of Hakona. The intense atmospheric burning on both her armor and the fellow Proto flyers during their entry into the planet was nothing to them as not only their armor protected them, but their bodies were also conditioned to withstand them.
Upon their entry, they could see the lush green forest below them, as well as the capital city in the distance. Sadly, they were quickly greeted by anti-air fire by the Akadian ground forces.
"Clear the anti-air guns! We need to make way for our ground forces!" Alisha ordered her squadron.
Her squadron immediately spread out and began bombarding the anti-air emplacements throughout the area while masterfully avoiding their counter fire.
Once the anti-air guns were cleared, Alisha landed not too far from one of the destroyed anti-air guns in an open clearing, dismissing her angelic wings while contacting the approaching Federation ground forces.
"Ground forces, you're clear for landing" She confirmed.
"Understood. We're inserting now"
Then, she ordered her squadron "The rest of you, clear the air. I'm going to have a look around"
Alisha then began walking towards the destroyed anti-air gun cautiously. It was located between the thick foliage's of the forest, and the only thing that gave it away back when she was in the sky was their bright and loud muzzle flashes.
She brushed the bushes in her way aside as she makes her way there, and when she did, her eyes are wide open at what she had found.
The anti-air gun was destroyed, but there was no sight of anyone. Not even dead bodies of Akadian troopers.
Alisha gasped while muttering to herself "It can't be"
Just when she was about to realize something, the ground forces have already landed. Their massive transports carrying both soldiers and tanks landed at the open clearing where she had landed, each disembarking and preparing themselves for the assault.
She turned around and desperately screamed out to the landing forces "No, get out of here, all of…!"
Before she could finish her sentence, one of the transports carrying a large tank was blown out of the sky, making the tank that it was carrying fell to the ground, shaking the ground around them immensely due to its weight.
Next, their soldiers were bombarded by gunfire from various directions. As the Federation and Proto soldiers were scrambling to find cover, most of their vehicles was destroyed.
Alisha couldn't move that much due to the intense gun fire and was forced to cast a shield magic to block their projectile. However, she didn't idle around and began rallying her men.
"Come on, pull yourself together and return fire!"
The soldiers that survived the initial gunfire followed her orders and returned fire at the ambushing Akadian forces. Although their attackers struck from a hidden location, they managed to fire back at their position. Returning one relentless gunfire with another.
This gave Alisha a chance to disperse her shield and charge towards one of the Akadian positions in full speed.
When she arrived at their location, the Akadian troopers had already disappeared. Once again, leaving her in disbelief at this strange phenomenon. She had expected the Akadian troopers to employ ambush tactics, yet to suddenly disappear this quickly was not something she had expected.
"Alisha!"
Friday called her from above as she falls down from up high, from a Federation dropship that flew above Alisha. When she landed, Friday took out both her plasma pistols.
"I saw the ambush. Have you eliminated the attacker?"
Alisha shook her head "No. They escaped. Strangely quick too"
"I don't understand. You have taken out their leadership, yet they remained organized to initiate this ambush"
"I was wondering that myself" Alisha's eyes widened again with a sudden realization "Could it be that…"
Friday tilts her head in curiosity "Alisha?"
Again, she was interrupted by a sudden call from both of their communicators.
"Come in, this is landing force 3. We are under attack by the Akadians in point 5. Requesting support!"
Suddenly she felt a sense of dread. An adrenaline she hadn't felt in a long time a long time ago. When she fought a certain trooper who managed to match her swordsmanship with his cunning strategies. Instinctively, she gritted her teeth, giving Friday an uncomfortable feeling, yet also reassuring as she knows that Alisha must have figured something out.
"Friday, help our men as best as you can. I'll remain here with the main force"
Friday nodded "I understand"
After she replied, she ran at full speed towards the direction of the soldiers who requested their aid.
However, Alisha remained there, using her communicator to contact Amberglade.
"General Amberglade. There's something I need you to do…" Her request sounded calm yet commanding.
With that, she began relaying her plans to Amberglade. Alisha wasn't certain of who is commanding the Akadian forces here, but she knows of one trooper that had used these kinds of hit and run tactics while performing an unthinkable miracle. Yet, she wasn't sure if it was the same person that she faced once. For now, she can only do her best to counter his strategy.
***
Somewhere in the forest, near the first portal gate where Priad and his men first entered.
"… Squad 7, engage the enemy at point 10, then pull back to rally point Alpha once they've discovered your position"
"Understood"
"Squad 4, fall back and lure them towards point Fire"
"Yes, sir!"
Priad gave orders to his scattered squads, each engaged in various locations. Employing hit and run tactics at the unsuspecting Federation invasion force. Yet, his biggest achievement was gaining Alisha's interest, as it was crucial for his next step.
"Am I right to assume that everything is going well?"
Norion appeared next to Priad with her teasing and laid-back demeanour. As if she had no stake at all in this battle.
"Seems like it. Our tactics appear to be working, but it's only a matter of time before Alisha could figure out how to counter our attacks" Priad replied while looking at the map of the battlefield on his data pad.
"And figuring out that you're the one pulling the strings all along"
"Heh, she's already on the right path. We just have to hold on until then"
The Akadian troopers have been launching their attacks using the portals leading to the other dimension. Every unit was sent towards specific locations to ambush the Federation soldiers. Then, they would retreat, disappearing from the enemy's sight before they could retaliate.
The same thing also happened with the anti-air guns that Alisha and her squadron have destroyed during their initial entry to the planet. However, Alisha wasn't the main target now. It was someone else from the Lamria kingdom.
"Priad"
A call went through from Yami.
"Go ahead" Priad replied.
"My scouts have informed me that the loyalist under the command of Kenji Shigeoka is heading towards the Federation position. It's likely that Okamoto have decided to ally himself with the Federation, considering the position they are in right now"
Priad smiled under his helmet "Excellent. We can proceed with phase 2. Have your men pinpoint Okamoto's location, then retreat and let us handle the fighting"
Yami laughed at Priad's next orders "For such a weak thing, you are all quite brave to fight strong enemies of this calibre"
"All in a day's work. Best of luck to you"
"And may the goddess bless you with victory"
With those last words, Yami ended the call. Those words left a sour taste on Priad, since for so long, the Akadians have fought against the goddess herself. Yet, now, she herself is aiding them, not to mention residing herself within Priad's body. Despite its irony, Priad didn't pay much attention to it and continues with his coordination.
He moved deeper through the forest, followed by Norion who didn't disappear yet and remained by his side.
"If everything went well, we'll capture the king and bring an end to all of this quick"
"And Alisha?"
Priad chuckled at the question "She's a formidable swordsman and a brilliant tactician. I doubt we can even capture here, especially since she's become more powerful since I last fought her"
They both emerged at an open clearing where several Akadian war machines and troopers were in the middle of their preparations while awaiting Priad's command. Trooper 309 was among them who seems to be leading this group.
As soon as he saw Priad he walks up to him.
"Is it time?"
Priad nodded "Activate the gate and lure them here. Make sure she knows"
"Understood"
Priad then turned to the other troopers "The rest of you, get those tanks through the portal!"
The troopers' scrambles as they hurried their preparations. Some of them entered the spider legged tanks and entered the portal, while the others remained there with their weapons ready for the incoming attack.
Norion then stood next to Priad, smiling at him.
"Shall we?"
Priad didn't answer her question and simply walked through the portal. Of course, it's to avoid the others from noticing her presence after all. As soon as Priad and the tanks disappeared through the portal, Norion too would vanish. Returning to Priad's side within him.
The success of the next phase of this strategy would be determined on Alisha's actions. Regardless, Priad's strategy had only just begun, and it would need all the luck and discipline in order to succeed.