The Asamian Naval fleet laid anchor 45 miles away from Sapin's coast. Once again, everyone on board was just hanging out and flight operations were cancelled for the day. All of the pilots on Akio were having a volleyball game while on the Akagi, The pilots were watching Phantom, Skye, and Gripen have a knock-off anime battle performance. Teal rested in his cabin and Marble was undergoing an avionics check-up. During Marble's test, he came across the live video feed of a burning and sinking cargo ship while scanning through his recon screen camera. It showed what appeared to be Intruders attacking Sapin Cargo Ships filled with citizens evacuating the city. Sapin's navy and air force was there, trying to defend them, but they didn't have the right tech to destroy the attackers. Marble sent the link to the bridge. The captain was watching USS Indianapolis until the show changed to the video feed.

Captain: Holy...They're only 45 miles away! Takashi!

Takashi: Yes sir?

Captain: Tell the pilots to get ready for air to air combat. Sapin evacuation ships are under attack!

Takashi: Aye!

The scramble alarm blared. Everyone was jump-scared by the sudden noise. Teal had jolted out of bed. The volleyball was dropped into the ocean. Everyone rushed to their planes and got armed for combat. Hornet, Phantom, and Marble rose from the hangar as Skye, Gripen, Eagle, and Physor took off. Gundard squadron and R.A.E FS-810 squadrons took off from the Akio. Schnee, Constrictor, Griffon,Midnight and Crimson squadrons took off after the Anima and Physite. In 30 minutes, everyone was up and racing towards the battle scene.

Cargo ships exploded as Intruders dived on them. They dragged down hundreds of civilians as they sunk. Refugees yelled and cried for help as Intruders flew low over their decks. Lifeboats were easy targets for the enemy planes as well and were blown up with ease. Survivors ducked for cover under containers as Intruders strafed the deck. But, when the ship listed too far, the containers slid off, taking unsuspecting passengers with them. Families were separated as they either slid into the dark, bloody ocean or were killed by incoming fire. Sapin escort destroyers and Saab Draken fighters were also victims of the massacre. One of the intruders complete exploded a cargo ship, everyone died onboard instantly. The same one emerged from the smoke and roared towards an unprotected lifeboat. The survivors braced for impact as the Intruder locked on. But before the Intruder could fire, it took a missile head-on and dived into the water, its debris bouncing off the waves. Right after, Skye flew overhead, confirming her kill.

Skye: Have no fear, the little blue angel is here!

Phantom: Was that the best you got?

Skye: I'd like to see you come up with a catchphrase on the go!

Midnight pilot: Alright I got one. How about shut up and do your job.

AWACS: Enough. We'll settle this back on deck. Focus on the mission for now. I'll start preparing bets.
The fight kicked off with Skye stealing two more Intruder lives. Phantom gunned down five. Physor and Eagle took down ten each. Hornet and Gripen took out six together. Midnight, Gundard, Griffon, R.A.E, Schnee, Constrictor, and Crimson squadrons all claimed 45 Intruders. Despite the Intruder loss rate, more showed up from the city. The U.N.C.A.F squadron brought the fight away from the ships to the abandoned city. The remaining ships escaping with mild damage. JS Shimakaze and JS Akizuki went to defend the escaping ships. Meanwhile the furball continued through the Kingdom of Sapin, with planes and intruders chasing each other through the city streets. Debris flew everywhere as Physor downed four Intruders with two missiles. They crashed into building, causing them to fall. Abandoned cars exploded as rocks and billboards fell on them. The city was covered by a curtain of black smoke and dust. Marble took down two more. They slammed into leftover ships in dock. After 2 hours of air combat, all intruders in the area were destroyed.

AWACS: All remaining refugee ships have escaped. Mission Accomplished!

Eagle: Good Job everyone, soon all of you will be entered in as Aces. Drinks are on me when we get back

Gripen: That took longer than it needed to.

Everyone was heading back. The pilots discussed party plans for when they get back. However, something felt wrong and a quiet, eerie presence was in the air.

Eagle: Marble, the mission is over, join the formation with us.

Marble stayed flying straight east of the returning formation. He looked like he was heading towards something..or something was heading towards him.

Marble: Unknown contact, approaching fast, head-on...

Hornet: It's probably just a stray airliner. Just co...

AWACS: Wait hold it. He's right. Fast unknown Intruder approaching head-on with Marble!

The lone Intruder locked on and fired a missile before flying past Marble and launching another behind him. It was the same one from Marble's dogfight over Accilia Bay, only this time it had the appearance of an Intruder. Marble didn't change his course or go defensive as the missiles got danger close. Then with one swift move, Marble went vertical and the missiles collided with each other. The missiles exploded and shot little fragments of Neo-crystals over the sky in a cluster-like explosion.

Skye: Cluster Missiles?!

Midnight pilot: Those damn Intruders just made a new toy for themselves!

Marble took pursuit of the Intruder back down into the city streets. They weaved their way in between buildings, shattering the windows as the afterburners blew them to pieces. The Intruder fired two more missiles at a building causing it to collapse. Marble flew under the falling debris, only getting lightly hit by Neo-fragments. The dust got sucked into Marble's engines, causing them to choke and seize up. Marble felt sick from the dust and was coughing badly. Determined to shoot down the Intruder, he continued to red-line his engines and keep up with the chase.

Eagle: Dammit Marble. Skye, Phantom, Physor, you guys follow me. The rest of you, report back to the carrier.

Everyone: Aye!

Eagle and his selected team broke formation and headed back to the city. They arrived just in time as Marble was now defensive and the unknown Intruder type was close behind him. Physor took a quick burst shot at the intruder before overshooting, causing mild damage. The Intruder, like Marble, shook off the hits and kept flying. Then, its cockpit lights turned red. From the city borders, shot up more cluster missiles. They closed in on eagle's position. Phantom and Physor disengaged the chase and turned around before the missile exploded. Physor and Phantom took little damage from the blast. Eagle and Skye also disengaged, rolling and diving away to avoid contact. The missile exploded, shattering into millions of pieces moving at supersonic speeds. Eagle shielded Skye from the fragments and took mild damage. However, Marble continued his pursuit, despite his damaged engine and three cluster missiles behind him. The Intruder went straight vertical and Marble followed in full afterburner. Marble a lock and fired his guns at the Intruder, disabling its engine. It flew back down past Marble and into the incoming missiles. The Intruder was erased from the sky. More fragments shot up as Marble came back down. They heavily damaged Marble's turbines and radar. His I.F.F system was in ruins and his detection range was lowered to a mere 10 miles. Eagle and the rest formed up with him as they limped back to the Akagi. Sapin had fallen into the Intruders hands.

Eagle landed back on deck first, then Physor and Skye. Phantom didn't land. he stayed with Marble to help him land first. Flakes of chard metal debris and sparks spewed out of Marble's exhaust. His left wing was covers in shards of Neo-fragments. Phantom could hear Marble's heavy breathing and coughs as his engine choked up too. They both lined up for the carrier. Phantom calmed Marble and corrected tiny adjustments to his landing approach. Marble touched down safely, followed by Phantom after. Marble had passed out from exhaustion again. he was brought below deck with his plane to get repaired. Skye and Phantom stayed by his side for the rest of the night. The Asamian Fleet raised their anchors and continued on their path to the next operation.