The arrival of the Zeppelin threw Charles's plans into disarray.
Initially, Charles had planned to destroy a German observation balloon to draw enemy attention: his idea was that the destruction of one balloon would attract all eyes, including the German planes. As the twin-wing planes seemed to target another balloon, German pilots would naturally focus on protecting it, thinking that Charles's target was merely the balloons.
Then, unexpectedly, the twin-wing aircraft would dive toward the ground, aiming at the Big Bertha artillery guns. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by Novᴇ(l)Fɪre .ɴᴇt
However, seeing the Zeppelin gave Charles a new idea—it could serve as an even greater distraction. If it exploded, the fiery blaze would be so shocking that the Germans might forget they had another critical weapon to defend: the Big Bertha.
Without hesitation, Charles adjusted his plans, focusing on the Zeppelin instead.
He split the planes into two groups: one led by Major Fischer with a twin-wing aircraft and two Taube monoplanes to attack the Zeppelin. The second group, led by Eric, included two twin-wing aircraft and three Taubes, with the mission to destroy the Big Bertha.
Charles's plan required absolute bravery:
"The Taube pilots must be ready to sacrifice themselves to protect the twin-wings. The twin-wing planes are the spears targeting the enemy. If the twin-wings are destroyed, the mission is lost," Charles explained. "Twin-wing pilots, you need to entrust your lives to the Taube pilots' self-sacrifice. Your only job is to stay on course and hit the target. If you deviate, even slightly, it will affect the rocket's accuracy."
The pilots nodded solemnly. They understood perfectly. But could they muster the courage in real combat?
To sacrifice oneself for another?
Or to trust one's life to someone else's willingness to sacrifice?
These thoughts were terrifying.
Fischer's team took off first, heading toward the Zeppelin, while Eric's group lifted off next, sneaking toward the Big Bertha. Though ready to carry out the plan, Fischer grumbled, "I should be taking out the Big Bertha, not that drunkard! I've never seen him sober, and now the fate of Antwerp rests on him?"
But once in the air, Fischer saw the massive Zeppelin looming ahead and couldn't help but marvel, "Blowing up this thing is way better than taking out the Big Bertha!"
The mission began smoothly. Fischer's three planes approached the Zeppelin without encountering any resistance. The Germans didn't even flinch.
Charles, watching through binoculars from the control tower, initially found this odd but soon realized the Germans saw no threat. The Germans believed that these aircraft were incapable of harm, as military planes at this time carried no weapons.
They hadn't reckoned on Charles's rockets. The German pilots' orders were to ensure that Charles couldn't escape Antwerp, so their priority was ramming any planes that tried to flee the city. Fischer's group, which had stayed within Antwerp's perimeter, seemed like mere spectators to the Germans—a few curious pilots flying by to admire the German Empire's "miracle."
Realizing this, Charles felt a pang of regret. He hadn't anticipated this reaction. If he'd known, he would've deployed all three twin-wing planes to focus on the Big Bertha and only later worry about the Zeppelin.
At that moment, Fischer launched his first rocket at the Zeppelin. It struck directly, but disappointingly, didn't detonate.
Suddenly, the Germans sprang into action, realizing that these Belgian planes weren't as harmless as they had thought. Gunfire erupted, and one of the Taubes covering Fischer was struck, losing a wing and spiraling downwards like a wounded bird before disintegrating on the ground.
The German Taubes immediately honed in on Fischer's twin-wing, recognizing it as the real threat. Fischer cursed under his breath as he tried to evade, muttering, "These rockets are worthless. What's the point if they can't even break through?"
With a last-ditch effort, Fischer launched five more rockets in quick succession, hoping that if one failed, another might succeed.
Then, with a massive "Boom!" the Zeppelin erupted in flames.
Caught off guard, Fischer narrowly dodged the fiery blast, while two German Taubes collided with the blaze, consumed in a flash of fire and turned to ash in seconds.
"It works! It actually works!" Fischer shouted in triumph, glancing back at the burning wreck.
The Zeppelin's explosion cascaded through its internal compartments like a chain reaction, each section setting off the next in a violent display of destruction. Soon, the entire Zeppelin was aflame, transforming into a massive fireball—a beacon in the sky, like a colossal lantern.
Incredibly, it continued to float, now appearing less like a hydrogen Zeppelin and more like a flaming hot air balloon. It seemed to linger, savoring its final, brilliant moments, before beginning a slow descent amid the passengers' desperate cries.
Everyone watching was stunned.
Albert I stared at the sight, speechless. He could hardly believe that a few rocket-powered projectiles could bring down such a behemoth. He had thought they might damage it slightly or force it to land, but instead, the mighty Zeppelin proved to be devastatingly vulnerable.
A slow smile spread across Albert I's face as he thought, In Charles's hands, this giant was as fragile as glass.
Still watching the Zeppelin's descent, Albert remarked calmly, "General, do you still think Charles is planning an escape?"
Ghys had no response. He stood gaping at the sight, stunned by the display of power. This unassuming boy had just accomplished the impossible.
If anyone still doubted Charles's intentions, they would have to be mad.
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