Prologue: Crisis in the Silence
The South China Sea was a vast expanse of darkness, its waves shimmering under the faint glow of the moon. The echoes of battle had faded, leaving behind only the rhythmic whispers of the sea.
High above, the J-31C “Thunderhawk” squadron maintained a steady high-altitude patrol, their formation precise and unwavering.
The battle had taken its toll on the enemy—the EA-18G electronic warfare aircraft had been shot down, the E-2D Hawkeye had retreated, and the U.S. tactical network was in disarray.
“Thunderhawk Squadron, enemy aircraft have left radar detection range.” Shen Xue reported.
Song Xu glanced at the tactical screen—the F-35I squadron had vanished from their sensors several minutes ago, as if they had truly withdrawn.
But he didn’t relax. Not even for a second.
He knew that the most dangerous moment in battle was not during the fight itself, but in the silence that followed.
U.S. F-35I Squadron Communications
Night Owl 1, the U.S. F-35I squadron commander, exhaled slowly, his fingers tightening slightly on the control stick.
“EA-18G is down, E-2D has retreated. Mission failure.”
A voice crackled in his headset—the E-2D’s operations commander.
“Night Owl Squadron, your stealth capability remains uncompromised. Withdraw safely. Do not engage further.”
A long pause.
“…Understood.”
Night Owl 1 hesitated for a brief moment, then finally gave the order:
“All units, disengage and retreat.”
“Night Owl 2, acknowledged.”
“Night Owl 3, acknowledged.”
“Night Owl 4, acknowledged.”
They knew there was no longer any point in fighting.
Continuing the engagement would only result in unnecessary losses. Retreat was the smartest option.
But they weren’t about to make it easy for their enemies to confirm their withdrawal.
They were going to disappear without a trace.
Stolen novel; please report.
Thunderhawk Squadron: A False Alarm?
Five minutes passed.
The night sky remained eerily quiet.
The J-31C squadron continued their patrol, but their radars picked up nothing—no signs of enemy movement, no anomalies.
“Did they really retreat?” Shen Xue murmured, doubt creeping into her voice.
Song Xu wasn’t convinced.
He knew the F-35I was built for stealth and that U.S. pilots were disciplined—there was no way they would just turn and flee.
Could they be hiding in a blind spot, waiting for an opportunity to strike?
He tapped the side of his helmet, his mind racing through possible scenarios.
Three Possibilities:
1. If they had truly retreated, they would have taken a low-visibility escape route to avoid long-range radar detection.
2. If they were still in the area, the most likely method would be low-altitude infiltration or a stealth-based ambush.
3. No incoming missiles, no radar locks—this suggested they may have actually left.
But Song Xu still wasn’t convinced.
“Thunderhawk Squadron, activate infrared search (IRST). Scan for possible enemy heat signatures.”
“Lower altitude to 5,000 meters—reduce our exposure to potential attacks.”
His squadron immediately complied.
U.S. F-35I Squadron Communications
“Night Owl 2, they’re descending in altitude. Looks like they’re searching for us.”
Night Owl 1 smirked.
“As expected. They’re trying to confirm whether we’re still here.”
“So what now? Keep evading?”
“No. We make them think they’ve found us.”
Night Owl 1 adjusted the electronic warfare system, utilizing the F-35I’s passive data link to send out a faint radar echo—
A false signal.
It wouldn’t expose their true position, but it would trick the enemy into believing the F-35I squadron was further away than it actually was.
“That should make them stop looking.” Night Owl 1 said, his voice calm.
“Clever.” Night Owl 3 muttered.
Song Xu’s Instinct: Truth or Illusion?
Seconds later, the radar screen flickered.
“Thunderhawk One, we’ve detected a weak signal—120 kilometers southeast!”
Shen Xue’s voice was tight with anticipation.
“Is it the F-35I?”
Song Xu narrowed his eyes, staring at the blinking dot on the tactical display.
Was it really the enemy?
Or was this exactly what they wanted him to believe?
His mind worked rapidly, analyzing the situation.
Critical Questions:
1. If the enemy had truly retreated, why would they suddenly expose themselves now?
2. Why was the signal so faint—just enough to be noticed, but not enough to fully confirm a target?
3. F-35I pilots were trained in deception. Why wouldn’t they simply vanish completely?
“…Something’s wrong.”
His eyes darkened.
“This is a trap.”
He took a deep breath and made his decision.
“Thunderhawk Squadron, do not pursue. Maintain formation.”
Shen Xue sounded confused.
“But we finally have a target—”
“Stay calm.” Song Xu’s tone was firm.
“If they were truly there, the radar return would be stronger—not this faint and inconsistent.”
He pointed at the tactical screen.
“This looks more like an electronic deception tactic. They’re misleading us toward the wrong direction.”
“If we chase after them, the real F-35I squadron will use that moment to escape unnoticed.”
Shen Xue exhaled sharply, realization dawning.
“…Those bastards. They really know how to play this game.”
Song Xu let out a small grin.
“But we’re not falling for it.”
U.S. F-35I Squadron Communications
Night Owl 2’s voice crackled over the comms.
“They’re not taking the bait, Lead.”
Night Owl 1 sighed, finally relaxing his grip on the stick.
“Good. That means we can get out of here.”
He adjusted the flight path southwest.
“Mission failure isn’t always a loss. We adapt, we learn, and next time, we come back stronger.”
“All units, disengage and exit the battle zone.”
One by one, the F-35I fighters turned and vanished into the night.
Conclusion: True Peace at Last
Ten minutes passed.
No new radar contacts. No movement.
This time, Song Xu was sure.
The F-35I was really gone.
Leaning back in his seat, he exhaled deeply, the tension finally releasing from his body.
“Thunderhawk Squadron, mission complete. Prepare to return to base.”
The night sky over the South China Sea was silent once more.
But Song Xu knew—this wasn’t the last time they would face these ghosts in the dark.
For now, at least, the battlefield belonged to them.