//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7: Dronish Decent 
// Story: HighFleet: The Journey for Salvation 
// by ARandomLonelyDude 
//------------------------------//

The Grand Duke sat tensely in his seat, waiting for the drone aircrafts to relay information about the missile. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long for it.

"Missile confirmed nuclear. Unknown model similar to KH15 missile. Engaging now." an officer said, giving the information relayed from the squadron. "Lightning is on standby with proximity fuse shells ready."

A CRT monitor showed the footage of the drone planes approaching the missile from behind and firing at it with their auto cannons, concentrating at the rocket engine. Nuclear missiles were more armoured than their conventional equivalents and so their best option was to destroy the engine and fuel, which would hopefully damage the mechanisms that activated the warhead, neutralising it.

The missile was thoroughly damaged but still flying as the planes continued unloading their magazines into it but they could only do for so long. The missile was getting dangerously close now.

"Give the Lightning clearance to engage." Mark ordered. The radio operator conveyed the order to the aforementioned ship, which immediately moved to do so. 





Down on the ground, Queen Chrysalis watched the movements with curiosity. Earlier, several small metal craft which had taken off northward and judging from the trails of smoke in the sky, were investigating something coming towards them. Now one of the larger ships had sped off to join them. There was only the sound of the ships for a few moments.

The smaller craft dispersed momentarily as several blue coloured projectile was shot from the small ship that had sped join them. A moment later, a sound similar to a several distant explosion reached her ears. The blue projectiles were exploding into clouds of some unknown material, right in the path of the mysterious thing coming in their direction.

Silence filled the air for a few seconds followed by the sound of a explosion, much more audible than the previous ones. It seemed that the mystery object had exploded on contact with the cloud. The small ship was already heading back for its fleet along with the smaller metal craft.

She turned to look at her own airship's progress and saw that it had reached the largest ship in the air. For a minute they stayed there, still in the air before the ships started descending.

They were landing.





Mark listened to the report from Captain Ali. The missile had been destroyed which had greatly removed the tension from the bridge, with a few cheers of victory but it had come at a cost. They had lost two of the eight T-7's they had in the explosion and the lightning had suffered damages as well. Above all, the part of the missile carrying the warhead had survived and fallen to the ground, meaning that it still had a chance to go off. They had to locate and disarm it.

Aside from that, it seemed that the airship had reached them. The crew in the observation posts closest to it had reported seeing bug-like four legged creatures manning it and presumably, gesturing them to land. The fact that they were able to understand their gestures was good as it meant that they wouldn't be as alien as they were assumed to be.

"Send a message to the Lightning that we are landing." Mark ordered. He turned to the monitor that showed the fleet of airships near the base of the great tower, thinking about how he will greet them. They were going to be the first Romani to establish contact with a new civilisation.

Whatever he was going to say, it had to be perfect.