TFA1 5.4 - Air Domination
South High Road km. 863
02:05, 6 Jul 2025
By relying on emergency lights, dozens of Hercules made night landings. The dozens of Hercules were carrying two Task Forces who would participate in Operation Gemini.
The first task force was TF Pollux. CQB Company was the backbone of TF Pollux. Its mission was to storm the residence of Northern Coalition’s leader and capture as many key personnel as possible. TF Pollux was led by Major Norlan, the CO of Alpha Co of CQB Company.
As soon as Hercules landed, all TF Pollux personnel immediately boarded the truck that would take them to FOC South 860.
The second Task Force was TF Castor. It had a company of air assault, along with 62 M1151 Ripper, artillery platoon, and various supporting assets. TF Castor would take part as ground element in the Gunboat Diplomacy. It was led directly by Colonel Meyer, the third-highest officer on Ground Combat Group.
While greeting Vex, Colonel Meyer said, "In the previous conflict, it seemed we were too soft."
Vex smiled before answering, "The previous conflict was not a battle, but an exercise with live targets."
"This time, make sure my unit gets a chance to level a fort or two."
"Wilco Brother."
Colonel Meyer then boarded a LAV Command, and TF Castor's convoy immediately began the journey to Fort Cambia.
Vex then got into one of the trucks carrying TF Pollux’s personnel, and on the way to FOC South 860 he received a report that ACG's assets had just arrived at Fort Cambia and FOC South 860.
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Main Briefing Room, FOC South 860.
06:30, 6 Jul 2025
After breakfast, Vex called the officers, team leaders of CQB Company, personnel of ACG, and other key personnel in TF Pollux to the briefing room. The brief was, TF Pollux's would kidnap Northern Coalition's leader from their residences, and then take them to Castle Magwurt for interrogation.
The three targeted residences were 200-220 km from Fort Cambia. So the fort would become the point of departure considering AH-1Z combat radius that would escort the Chinook was only 231 km.
Over the past few months, IDG had planted spies in the residence of Northern Coalition’s leader. They already obtained layout of the complex, patterns and strength of the guard as well as the habits of the target.
Since last night, personnel from Logistic & Support Group had started building a mock-up of the targeted complex. They would complete it this afternoon. Until the next five days the raid team would stay, sleep, and train at the mock-up complex.
Vex paused for a moment so that the briefing participants could digest his explanation, and then he asked, “Before we go into the details, is any of you have something to ask?"
For some time Vex waited, but no questions were asked.
"All right, IDG’s officers will share the intel they have, and then we can compile the details of the operation and the training menu."
"" "" "Sir!" "" "" "
All the briefing participants answered calmly but steadily.
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Abandoned Nouel Farmland near Villa Hagel
07:15, 6 Jul 2025
Peggie wanted to curse when this morning she found the three female workers of Amethyst Merchant who were kidnapped with her were hobbling while walking and their faces were very pale.
However, she immediately held back after remembering that the situation could have been worse. That's why even though her heart was burning with rage, Peggie did not argue when Lassac took her to the abandoned Nouel Farmland around Villa Hagel.
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The problem was that at a glance, Peggy could tell the farmland was in much worse condition than the Nouel Farmland in Tuscan Region, and the root of cause was man-made.
"It will take at least three years to repair this field, and believe it or not the damage in this field is not due to natural causes."
Lassac casually answered, "At least you didn't say this field could be repaired easily like previous Maester."
Peggie instantly frowned. "Before I formulate a solution, I need to know what previous agriculturalists have done to this field."
"The Maester has already gone to the afterlife. But he has notes that you can study and some subordinates that can help you."
"It's too much trouble if I have to teach new people. I need my colleagues, so leave them alone."
Lassac pondered for a moment before saying, "It depends on how fast you can repair this field. I can't restrain my subordinates for too long."
Peggie glanced at Lassac before saying in a super-serious tone, "To be honest, three years is the fastest time before this land is ready to be replanted with Nouel. Before that, this land must be reconditioned and then being planted with barley or other crops depending on the results of my analysis."
A glimmer of hope flashed through Lassac's eyes, but he desperately hid the joy in his heart. "How long before the land is ready for barley?"
"Three months at the earliest, five months at the most."
Lassac said reflexively, "Nouel is not a priority, just focus on the crops. Once you provide the technique I asked for, I'll send you home and no one will bother you until then.”
Peggie didn't fully believe Lassac's promise, but for now she would follow Lassac's wishes while looking for a way to tell her location to Amethyst Merchant HQ.
"I'll get to work today and quickly get the things I asked for."
Lassac gave a small nod before taking Peggie back to Villa Hagel.
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Airspace at an altitude of 20,000 feet, 105 km east of Dohark City.
07:50, 6 Jul 2025
With ease, a P-8 Poseidon with callsign Smoking Panda crosses the sky to the east. In addition to tracking and locating the kidnapped personnel from Agriculture Development Group and Amethyst Merchant’s workers, Smoking Panda had the additional task of securing air space for two OH-58D Kiowa Warriors who would pay a visit on Dohark City, the capital city fo Tarai Region.
The two OH-58D Kiowa Warriors with callsign Oscar Kilo were tasked with checking the route to Dohark City as well as giving an ultimatum to higher-ups of Tarai Region.
The radar operator on Smoking Panda was about to sip of his second coffee when six blips appeared on the dark green screen he was watching at.
"Radar contact, six bandits, 12 o'clock, 85 km at 3000 feet, 320km/h. It will hit Oscar Kilo's from nine O’clock."
The operations control officer immediately responded to the radar operator's intel by asking the Electro-Optic/IR operator for confirmation.
"EO, give me your input!"
"Roger."
In non-total war circumstance, TF Amethyst adheres to the doctrine of visual confirmation before shooting down a target. Therefore, the operations control officer could not simply ordering the weapon officer to launch a strike until the target had been identified visually.
In clear weather the EO/IR sensors on Poseidon could reach up to 120 km, and if the target was a fighter using the afterburner or a missile with a booster, then both targets could be tracked and identified from a distance of 200-300 km.
Of course, when the sky was filled with thick clouds, Poseidon's visual/passive sensing ability dropped dramatically to a range of 8-35 km.
As soon as visual confirmation was obtained, the EO/IR sensor operator immediately said, "Visual contact, six Cloud Hawks, with Tarai Air Corps attributes."
The operations control officer immediately responded by giving orders to the weapon officer, "Send A-1-20 in pairs at three-second intervals."
"Roger! A-1-20 in pairs, at three-second intervals."
The Poseidon used by TF Amethyst had been modified so that it could fire all missiles in the USAF's inventory, where each unit could carry up to a maximum of 6 heat-seeker homing missiles such as AIM-9 Sidewinder, or 18 radar homing missiles such as AIM-120 AMRAAM.
Smoothly, three pairs of AIM-120C7, which had an effective range of up to 105 km, were launched from under Poseidon's wings at intervals of three seconds.
The AIM-120 had a pop-dive trajectory. It would climb up as it flew toward its target. The radar on the Poseidon would direct the AIM-120s towards Tarai Riders until a distance of approximately 20 km. After that, the seeker on the missile would activate and take over the tracking.
In the world of fighters, there was the phrase 'Missiles have no friends.' This was because the seeker on a missile, no matter whether it was guided by radar or heat-seeker, could not distinguish between friend or foe.
When the seeker on the missile was active, the seeker would repeat the locking process, and automatically locked on to the closest target. That's why fighter pilots were strictly prohibited from firing missiles at an opponent who was involved in a tight dogfight with a friend unless he or she had a clear shot.
Fortunately, in the Smoking Panda case the opponent was still quite far from Oscar Kilo's location. So the AIM-120 could be fired with ease.
Not long after the seekers on the AIM-120 locked onto the six Tarai Riders, the six missiles then took a sharp dive and hit the target from behind diagonally.
Two Tarai Riders in leading position reflexively made a sharp turn as soon as they heard an explosion from behind them. However, both of them still did not escape the next pair of AIM-120 and soon followed up their colleagues into afterlife.
*****