“Operation Eastern Jade has been declared by the Mandate of Nations! All units of the combined Hebeian–Asanain–Orlish–Lorathian–Rizalian forces have now commenced offensive actions against North Hebeian forces in the Ginzhu province. Sporadic battles have now commenced on the East Hebeian Sea. Even Gallian Expeditionary Forces (GEF) arrived on Hebei today, alongside the Gallian DesDiv 18. The operation has been marked initially with heavy MN cruise and ballistic missile attacks. It was followed by approximately a thousand rockets from Hebeian MLRS launchers pummeling North Hebeian frontline units. It is expected that soon, the CFN high command will be sending in their forces to reinforce North Hebei after a declaration early morning from Chancellor Kerensky about ‘brotherly and revolutionary unity’.”
- Liberty One Radio
+++
East Hebeian Sea
1st Eastern Air Wing
16th Fighter Squadron
“Major. It looks like we’re getting close to the combat zone. Our AWACS said already that there was an enemy ZU-34 squadron nearby. Should we continue?” Major Bianca Brandt’s second in command, Lieutenant Anja Seelman, seemed to have reservations with her words.
Naturally, Bianca took clear note of her subordinates' warnings. But otherwise, they had a very important mission right now. The rest of the 16th Fighter Squadron was still two hundred kilometers away. Due to the continuous sorties they had been doing since last night, her squadron was unfortunately split into three halves.
They were being rotated in and out of the operational area, which was the area at around one hundred and fifty-kilometer radius of the ONS Cuirassier’s task force. So far, the North Hebeians offered no resistance in the naval and aerial front of the battlefield. Thus, their job was mainly to give escort and presence for the combined MN task forces active.
Even from out here, she could still see them occasionally launching their missiles from the sea. They were but dots on the clear, morning ocean. But each dot seemed to have a large plume of smoke that rose to the sky. All they had to do was watch from up here. But Bianca wasn’t going to trust that.
Hence why she was taking a different route than normal for her group.
“Two-One, we’ll simply make a quick sweep. These ZU-34s could be a bit more sneaky than we thought—”
“But we’re getting too far from the radar coverage of the nearest AWACS.”
“Exactly, yes,” Bianca nodded. There were only eight of them flying with Bianca right now. Most of them barely had much real combat experience outside of lobbing glide bombs at the enemy for the last few days. Yet, Bianca had a growing sense of trust for her underlings. “We’re going out here to sweep things out nicely. Girls, we’re flying the LF-20 Phantom. While I told you all that you should not put full faith in it, we’re still stealthier. And we have the best AESA radars out there.”
There was no response.
“Thus it falls into our job to sweep this area. If we find an enemy aircraft, then we’ll report it and engage. If there’s too many of them, we’ll launch our long-range missiles then peel off.”
“I hope that works,” Anja said, a bit skeptical. “I’m just not feeling good at being outside of our AWACS coverage.”
Bianca shook her head as she laughed a bit. She tried her best this time around to appear more confident instead of cautious to her underlings. After all, she was dragging them to a very dangerous sortie. They needed to feel some sort of confidence in what they were doing.
“Yeah, I can understand the anxiousness when we’re outside of the eyes of the force. But, we’re still flying the best plane out there. And High Command did tell us to do our best to patrol the skies. Let’s prove ourselves capable of that task then.”
“Aye, Major!”
They continued northwards. They soon reached around fourteen kilometers in the air, very much straight at a thinner atmosphere, and near the LF-20s flight ceiling. The seas below had already stopped being visible. Any distant ship firing its missiles barely even appeared as a flash this high above.
And they have now exited twenty kilometers from the maximum range of nearby AWACS aircraft. It was just them now. Only Bianca and her seven newbie underlings. But there was almost zero dissent in her ranks. All members of her team were keeping an eye out. All of them reported and cooperated as best as they could.
They soon began flying westward instead of northward, trying their best to cover the areas in front of the Cuirassier’s task force. But there was nothing. Not a single blink on their radars. They had now already turned on their active radars. Due to their altitude, it scanned their surroundings well.
They could see things as far as a hundred forty kilometers at this altitude. More if they flew a little bit higher. Bianca knew that the enemy had no stealth aircraft. Even if the newer variants of the ZU-34 and the newer ZU-40 fighters had greatly improved avionics, potentially matching the ones mounted on the LF-12 and her LF-20, she still doubted they’d have much of a chance.
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
Just stay calm. She told herself. We’ll be fine—
“Blips detected at four o’clock! One hundred and forty kilometers from us!”
That was the report from Anja. Bianca immediately looked at her radar returns. Indeed, red dots were forming right now. And they were growing. Rapidly. Soon, it was almost as if she was facing the wall. And there were only eight of them.
“Ready two AMATA-80s now!” Bianca ordered. “We’re peeling out afterward. Fire them on my signal!”
“Copy One-One!”
All members of her squadron immediately tightened their formation as they closed in on their target. While the AMATA-80s were all theoretically capable of hitting targets at a hundred eighty kilometers, Bianca knew not to place all her faith in what was stated in the paper. After all, the enemy could conduct maneuvers to drain the energy of her squadron’s missiles.
I need to get closer. A little bit. Come on…
Soon, she reached that mark.
“Everyone! Fire at once! Fox Three!”
“Fox Three!”
“Break now. We’re going to shadow them from the sidelines. Let’s get out of their radar range.”
There was a collective ‘aye’ in their chatter. On the other hand, sixteen AMATA-80s raced through the skies straight at the wall of enemy fighters. Her squadron on the other hand began turning close to the east, to Asanai’s direction. They’d try to hold the eastern flank at least.
I need the rest of my squadron soon. Bianca began trying to communicate with HQ. Unfortunately, due to their distance, it was turning into a bit of a tedious affair. Damn it…did I overextend ourselves?
+++
Strike Force Seven
ONS Rebenslof
“Attention! Gentlemen, we have a bit of a complication. An expected one,” Albert called in as he barged into the bridge of the Rebenslof. Immediately, all of the staff inside who were hard at work stood up and faced his direction in rapt attention. Albert raised his hand for a second as he walked to the forward section of the bridge, and the gesture made everyone sit back down.
On the other hand, James went side-by-side with him. Albert faced the bridge crew and took a deep breath.
“So, I assume you all know what CIC reported. I’m not going to mince words, because it’s true. It would appear that the 16th Fighter Squadron, based from Yamaka Airbase, has spotted a hostile aerial strike force headed our way,” Albert explained. “It’s not just that. Elements of FrigDiv 12 have also reported that they are now engaging in ASW operations up north after faint underwater noise. Same with the ONS Weirlöff and ONS Lutzen are also now shadowing what appears to be an enemy naval group en route to us.”
“Thus, as the Admiral has warned,” James spoke up. “We’re going to have a full naval battle soon. For real this time. It seems that the enemy has decided to rise out of their shell, and meet us head-on.”
“Foolish I should say,” Albert declared. “Thus, from this time on, all of us will be on routine, fully alert for this battle. In a few minutes, the enemy’s strike force should arrive soon. Let’s place this task force’s capabilities to the test again. Because I bet that we’ll be getting a lot of cruise missiles on our ass soon. So damage control, be on standby.”
With that out of the way, the crew returned to their task as Albert turned to the windows of his bridge. Outside, the morning sky seemed to bring a foreboding dread. Yet, he felt immune to it. He simply watched the ONS Seafire ahead of them firing two more cruise missiles.
He picked up his microphone to communicate with the rest of Strike Force Seven.
“Attention all ships. This is the Admiral speaking. Suspend all land strike fire missions at once. We’re shifting ourselves into a surface combat posture. Scan the skies, and don’t let an enemy missile get in. That’s all.”
+++
Bianca had finally managed to warn the rest of the Orlish Navy and Air Force about the development near them. Naturally, her underlings were all worried as they flew only a bit further from the enemy formation’s radar range. At this point, Bianca was just waiting for another order from HQ.
None was coming, however.
“So Captain Seelman, what do you think we should do?” Bianca curiously asked. “Cause I’m running out of ideas here.”
“It’s still going to take time for the rest of the squadron to rearm and refuel, no?”
“Yeah, they’re still en route to land on Yamaka AB,” Bianca confirmed. “I suppose we can’t wait. Friendly AWACS seems to be tracking these guys anyway…”
“Yeah, I think if we can come back to Yamaka quickly and get the entire squadron fitted for a new mission to counter this, we’ll do better.”
“You think so?”
“I think…”
Bianca groaned.
It just sucks how hard it is to coordinate with HQ when flying this far.
Not to mention, all of the EW interference sweeping through all frequencies. It didn’t fully stop communications, but it was interference nonetheless that made it harder for them to react quickly. At this point, she was merely juggling her options. Then, she made her call.
“Alright…I think at least one ship from below has already seen these guys,” Bianca said. “Everyone, line up for a second volley. Let’s take out more of them today.”
Immediately, her two formations turned in the direction of the hostile air squadron. At once, they let off another sixteen AMATA-80s in the enemy’s direction. Then, with their internal bays empty, Bianca’s group pulled their planes back into the direction of Asanai.
Regardless, the job isn’t over yet. Bianca frowned. We need to get back here quickly to support the fleet.